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Christmas time 2022 has started and the evidence is everywhere. Stores are brimming with Christmas trees and sales. Christmas music is playing and so many Christmas movies! Decorating is taking place and baking cookies. People are most generous at Christmas time. Extra church services are available. Everyone has their favorite Christmas tradition. Some are sold-out for Christmas; they are passionate about it. And this can be good. But at the core, the root, the very center of Christmas is Jesus. We must ask ourselves, are you passionate about Jesus at Christmas? Are we passionate about Jesus every day? Is there evidence of our passion for Jesus in us?
The world offers so much to choose for celebrating the "holidays," it can be done without even mentioning Jesus. But Christmas literally means "mass on Christ's day." It all depends on your passion of what Christmas is truly about.
Maybe to answer these questions, we need a better understanding of passion -- which is defined as "a strong liking, loving desire of devotion for someone, something, an action, event or person." We can be passionate about ourselves! Passion drives our choices for accomplishment no matter how hard, difficult or long it may be.
Passion is an intense, powerful conviction that provides a reason and purpose. Are we passionate for Jesus, especially at Christmas?
Passion is a good thing but sometimes it can be not so good. When I think of all the people in the Bible and their passion a few come to mind.
A sure example is the apostle Paul who was a Jewish Pharisee -- a religious group who believed in strictly following Jewish law and tradition always seeming to be right -- who was very well-known and educated teacher, a tent maker by trade. Paul was so passionate about his beliefs; he saw Christians as an evil threat and devoted himself to persecuting them even to death.
This was his passion until he personally met Jesus on the Damascus Road (Acts 8:1-3; 9:1-18) and his life took a 180-degree turn. Paul now knew the real Jesus and what it meant to be passionate for Christ. He devoted his life to sharing and teaching people about Jesus and how to live the Christian life. A great percentage of the New Testament is written by Paul.
As we study Paul as a believer in Jesus, we see his life was far from easy.
Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 11:25-28, he was beaten with rods three times, pelted with stones, shipwrecked three times, was in the open sea a day and a night -- his life was constantly in danger from rivers, bandits, he knew hunger, thirst, or cold.
Most of his travels were by walking over rough ground wearing sandals: no cars, no trains or planes, no hiking boots, no air conditioning or heaters, no phones or internet. What gave him his passion to continue? His love and passion for Jesus, the truth about Jesus was his source.
Today, we get a "testy" when our seats get uncomfortable or the pastor "talks too long." We can find going to church once a week can be hard to fit in our overloaded schedules. We must ask, are we passionate about Jesus, sold-out for Christ? What is our priority?
What was the fuel that drove Paul's passion for Jesus? After his experience on the Damascus Road, Paul met with the true Christian leaders of the day. He studied the scriptures, prayed and worshipped. He prepared for whatever God would ask him to do.
Paul also relied on the Holy Spirit. (Acts 13:4) He said in Acts 20:23-24 NLT "the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus -- the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God."
The Lord has given us the same task to share who Jesus is, what Jesus has done for us and what he means to us. God's passion for us and our passion for Him. We may not be called to the same plan as Paul. Just living for Jesus, responding like Jesus can be our testimony.
But God does have a purpose, a passion for each of us to be and do. Paul said in Romans 1:15-16, "That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel… or I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes."
The Bible records Paul being in jail numerous times. Prisons in Paul's times were not as today. They were dark, damp, unclean, prisoners were often chained and their daily essentials not supplied. Family and friends would provide for them or they did without. How did Paul respond?
In Acts 16:22-25, Paul and Silas are beaten, flogged, arrested and put in stocks in jail. I do not know about you but at this time I would be over-the-edge, losing it! What were Paul and Silas doing? According to verse 25, they were praying and singing hymns to God. Their passion for Jesus overpowered their horrible, painful, difficult situation. Their focus was on Jesus and how God was going to take care of them.
So, they gave Him the praise and prayed. Would this have been our response? Even better, the other prisoners were listening to them. Their passion was overflowing and influencing others. This leads us to "compassion" which literally means "to suffer together."
Compassion is seeing and feeling another's situation without judgement. Numerous scriptures tell us before Jesus acted, he had compassion. Our compassion should be our passion for Jesus and its impact and effect on others. Having compassion compels us to take action in whatever way we can.
When Jesus was asked in Matthew 22:36-40 what is the greatest commandment, he responded "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment."
This should be our passion for Jesus. But Jesus went on in verse 39 and said, "And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" This should be our compassion for others. When we love the Lord with all our heart, soul and mind, we can love others. We can have the same passion and compassion that compelled Paul to share the Good News about Jesus everywhere he went. In this case would be the reason and purpose for Christmas.
I will end with a scene from a "Charlie Brown Christmas."
When the kids are practicing their Christmas play, everyone is in an uproar over the tree Charlie Brown chose. Charlie Brown questions knowing what Christmas is all about. Does anyone know?
Linus, who always carries his security blanket, drops his blanket to the ground and says "Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about. 'And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'" (Luke 2:8-14 KJV). Linus picks up his blanket and walks off the stage.
The challenge for each for us this Christmas is to prioritize and blend our Christmas traditions and celebrations with our passion and living for Jesus and letting it grow into compassion for others and sharing the true meaning of Christmas. May God bless each of you this Christmas with true passion and compassion.
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Finding Faith is written by area pastors. This week's column comes from Pastor Janis Heiser who pastors a Home Church online and in Lock Haven.