Reflecting Christmas

Scripture Openning

John 1:9–12 “The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.”

Transition: What a beautiful reminder that Jesus came into the world, so he could get close to us, so he could live among us, and then die for us, come back to life, to give us the opportunity to be not just close to him but part of his family.

Pray.

Introduction- “Moments”

I’m from Pittsburgh, PA. I moved out here in July and have absolutely fallen in love with this city. I’m so grateful to be have the opportunity to encourage and hopefully build you up today.

This is typically the part where a pastor would share about his wife and kids and about how they have a dog but definitely not a cat. But I don’t have any of those, so I’m going to share a different story with you from my life.

When I was 10 years old I had the most odd Christmas of my life.

A few months prior to Christmas I was issues with my leg- went to the hospital and discovered my entire right femur bone was hollow from a rare type of tumor called a unicamerial cyst. 3% of all tumors. About a month before Christmas I had an operation to remove the tumor and following that I was placed in a body cast that went around my waist and down to my right ankle.

And all that I could think about was how much I wanted the Batman bat cave. The creme de la creme of all toys in existence. This has nothing to do with my message, I’m just still obssessed with this toy. This was by far the coolest toy in the world to me.

The reason this was odd was and not unique was because it became almost a tradition, of multiple leg surgeries right around Christmas time leading me to now where I a giant titantium rod and 4 screws imeded in the bone

And to save all of us some time:

No, I don’t set off metal detectors

Cold weather doesn’t effect me

And this is my excuse as to why I am such a bad dancer

TRANSITION - Christmas time has such a unique way of bringing up memories. And as we consider some memories, and even our present reality I’d like to ask us a question based on the scripture we read in John 1.

Tension: We don’t recognize is right here in our lives Jesus

Can you recognize Jesus in your life?

We read that the world he created didn’t recognize him. In fact they rejected him. Are you able to look at your life and see that God has been doing something?

I think it’s hard to recognize Jesus when it doesn’t look like he’s there. Because if he was there:

Finances: I wouldn’t be as stressed as finances and could actually take more time off

Family Planning: I’d finally have the family I dreamt of

Friends: I’d have people in my life who I felt really supported me and had my back

Expectations: I would have the job that I came out for, and be able to live in the apartment

Relationships: If Jesus was really in my life, I’d be looking forward to the people I’m going to be spending the holidays with, rather than figuring out was excuses I can come up with to get out oPersonal: If Jesus was in my life I wouldn’t have had that tumor in my leg.

There’s an unspoken expectation, that if Jesus is in my life, we’ll recognize it by the lack of problems.

Encouragement:

Can I encourage you for a moment?

Jesus is present and involved in your life. This entire holiday we remember the great lengths he went to to prove it!

Care: He’s not just watching your life, he’s involved, seeing the needs, desires, hopes dreams

Working: When God is present in your life he’s working things towards the best, and not our definition of the best, but a pure good and true place.

That’s great Colin, but I don’t see it, you might not even believe it. What do I do with this? What should I do if I don’t recognize Jesus?

Reflection:

I want to talk about a habit we’re not the best at- Reflection. Taking time to process, think, and pray about what Jesus has done, what he is doing currently, and dreaming with him about what he’s going to do next.

Main idea: Reflection gives us the opportunity to see Jesus in places we didn’t know He was all along

A lot of times we go through life with unchallenged assumptions, beliefs about our reality, identity, circumstances that affect us and often hurt us. Reflecting gives Jesus the opportunity to correct and clarify.

There’s a lot of good things we can do like going to the gym, talking to a therapist, but nothing can replace when we see down and reflect in the presence of Jesus.

This isn’t a new idea. It’s written all throughout the Bible. David Demonstrations reflection throughout the psalms, especially in 139, seeing God in his formation, his dark moments, his points of rebellion.

SELAH- stop, think about what you just read

The writer of the book of Ecclesiastes reflects on the hard questions and realities of life.

But one most relevant references to reflection takes place in the story of Jesus’ birth by Mary, and I’d like to take you through that story today.

Bible: The Story of Mary

Luke 2:3–7 “All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.”

Luke 2:19 “but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.”

Let’s recap what’s happening here

Mary, a young woman, receives a message from an angel that she is going to give birth to the savior of the world Jesus.

After this, she tries to explain this to her fiance, who agrees to stay with her. Her dreams of what a wedding, family, and everything else are immediately gone. The social ramifications too were also at play.

But then as we read in verse 3, a census is taken with requires them to go on a journey, of 90 miles. Whether by donkey or walking, doing this pregnant must have been horrible.

And then we’re talking about giving birth without any medical assistance, no pain relievers, we don’t about that part enough.

But then after she gives birth these shepherds show up freaking out about this army of angels they just saw.

Before we get to the response in verse 19- is this the plan you’d want? It’s not mine. I’m a planner, and this is perhaps the textbook definition of poor planning. When you look at this store can see that God is present, moving, working?

We might be able to say yes today purely because so many people have sat down and reflected upon the words of this story.

Verse 19- Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. In essence, she reflected upon the fact that God was present in her life, quite literally!

Main Points:

So what does reflection look like for us? What are the attributes of Biblical reflection?

Faithfulness

Consistency- reflection requires us to be consistent.

Example: Have you ever started reading a book, you get through the introduction, chapter 1, then you remember there’s a new episode out of whatever and you drop the book. Then 6 months later you pick up the book and completely forget what the premise was?

Our relationship with Jesus functions like this so frequently

Attitude- faithfulness doesn’t just require we do something, faithfulness speaks to the quality- being full of faith and hope.

Attitudes thrive when we talk but don’t listen

Are you full of hope to see Jesus in your life?In our relationship with Jesus one of the hardest things to confront is the bitterness and frustration. We can actually be doing the right things with the wrong heart, which only hurts us in the end.

Here’s what this sounds like:

Alright I’m going to sit down and reflect on the fact that you didn’t show up. Why do you always do this where you let people leave my life all the time! This is just always how it’s going to be with me.

PASTORAL NOTE: I want to be clear, we need to be raw, vulnerable, and up front with Jesus. But often times our attitude will get us to say things but not the the chance to listen in faith that Jesus is truth, light, and hope.

David would often write in psalms expressing frustration by the end he would see

When you are consistently, with a right attitude, sitting down with Jesus talking about your life you will begin to see what he’s doing all along.

It may take some time, but I’m sure Mary wasn’t completely aware of everything all at once.

Presence

The other important element of reflection is presence. This attribute is simple to understand but complex to embody.

Escape Artists- Life is difficult, and hard. And there are more things that enable us to escape from reality rather than sit in it.

Sure there’s healthy escapes, but we can’t reflect if we’re not present.

We have the complete and full attention of our Jesus available to us, but how often do we choose another drink, another show, another video, another boyfriend, another order on amazon, another anything so we don’t have to confront reality with Jesus.

Regardless of whether you think it works, there’s something better in store when you reflect with Jesus.

Maturity

Because when we remain present and reflect with Jesus, this is often where we mature. Over time of doing this, we begin to see and grow, not just where Jesus has been along, but how he has been shaping us and molding us.

Testimony Part 2

I’m not an expert at this any means. In fact, for years I wouldn’t tell anyone about my leg, I had so many sensitive emotions and feelings. It just felt like this scar in past that I didn’t know what to do with. And then I took time to reflect and began to see what Jesus what did.

But here’s the thing, God typically is working out more than one thing at a time.

Little girl named Mallory with the same tumor

For her family, this was a sign from God. Because they saw and heard from that as I lived and then reflected back on my situation they recieved hope.

Prophetic: The second definition of Reflection:

There’s another definition of reflection other than deep contemplative thought. It’s casting back light. Our reflection of Jesus, casts light into the world, our situations, our circumstances. John 1:9 articulates the light of Jesus so well. A source of light that would clarify, purify, and direct people forward into better life!

Reflection gives us the opportunity to show Jesus in places other people didn’t know he was all along

When you sit down and reflect and spend time with Jesus, being faithful and present, people notice it.

There’s something different, because you’re not showing yourself, your reflecting Jesus.

In Exodus 34:29 Moses was spending so much time reflecting and be present with God that was completely unaware that his face looked different.

I think we’re in need of people seeing Jesus and just reflecting on Him brings him into our perspective, realities, problems, our lives.

Response:

Salvation: You might be sitting here today and you’re hearing that Jesus is present in your life, he’s here in the room. Right now in this moment we have a define the relationship Moment

Reflection: