How many of you can agree that Christmas is a season of waiting! Its with great anticipation that the modern Christmas seems to be more focused on eagerly waiting Christmas morning to open their beautiful, wrapped gifts, eat fabulous foods and even spend time with family and friends throughout the day—almost like it may have not been done before. Each Christmas season comes and goes, and we learn quickly that waiting is one of the hardest things to do, especially in a world that teaches faster is better. By chance, did you ever find yourself sneaking downstairs early Christmas morning and snoop around. Maybe try to guess what you got? I honestly can say I never done that, but I sure have thought about it. Then Christmas comes, all the fun of seeing others open their gifts with a smile and then throwing the wrapping paper away, all to glimmer on the prize—and yet realizing less than 24 hours, Christmas is over! No more preparation, no more splendor, no more beautiful scenery, no more wonderful angelic songs of the baby Jesus. All the gifts opened, the smiles slowly fade as if knowing this is a moment of joy that will not last because very soon, we go back to reality. Despite this depressing description of Christmas, believe me when I say, Christmas is not finished yet.
In our journey this morning, we are going to look into what I like to call the three W’s of Christmas. As we already read in the Gospel of Luke, let me paraphrase some. Mary, very young in age, was delivered a message from an angel stating you will give birth to not just a child but “Son of the Most High God,” and the child will be called the Son of God. Then Mary gave the most awesome response “Behold, the Lord’s bond-servant; may it be done according to your word.”
We do not know exactly how much time passed from this point to the actual birth of Christ, however, we do know that already in the works God was working in the lives of two faithful servants. The first was a righteous and devout man named Simeon. Gospel of Luke 2:25-32 And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, 28 then he took Him in his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29 “Now, Lord, You are letting Your bond-servant depart in peace, According to Your word; 30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation, 31 Which You have prepared in the presence of all the peoples: 32 A light for revelation for the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”
I do realize I may be jumping ahead of the season some, but I find it very satisfying to note how long Simeon had spent waiting of the coming messiah. I can imagine him coming to the Temple every day to look and to see, hoping and praying to lay eyes on the Messiah, long before Jesus’s birth. As described, Simeon was moved with passion and knowing God fulfilled the request, he can now die happy. Think about it, Simeon was waiting and longing for God to heal His people from their oppression. It took centuries but God came through. All the cold dark nights to the heat stricken days of waiting for God, Simeon was in Gods mighty hands the entire time. What did Simeon do? He Worshiped While Waiting! Three W’s! No matter what, we are always to Worship the living God as we wait for Him. However, the nativity story does not stop there with the three W’s. There is a second faithful servant whom also patiently waited—and her name was Anna. Gospel of Luke 2:36-38 tells us And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage, 37 and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She did not leave the temple grounds, serving night and day with fasts and prayers. 38 And at that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak about Him to all those who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
These are rather short verses in length but it speaks volumes. Anna is like one of those people who just never misses church. When the door was open, she was there, serving the Lord with fasting and prayer. A true dedicated servant of God. Now we do not fully know if Anna saw Jesus, regardless, she worshiped and gave thanks to God daily. But what was Anna waiting and looking for? Redemption! Redemption from sin, redemption from death, redemption from the evils of the world—this friends is what I believe is the true meaning of Christmas. Just as Anna Worshiped While Waiting, we as well are to experience God in a whole new light when we continuingly worship Him and wait patiently for Him.
From the first days of human history God loves to take the bad and make it into good. Jesus came to complete that task but not just because our sin is so bad, but because only God can solve the problem between us and Him. God doesn’t wait for us to make the right decisions and let ourselves be loved before God loves us, does that make sense? We have our first Love in this life, and that is from God, our creator. While we wait for God, we worship! As we worship, we serve. As we serve, we fulfil His purpose, not just in our lives but in every life on earth. As our lives are fulfilled, we become complete like nothing else can.
In the story of both Simeon and Anna, both were looking and hoping for God to do something amazing, which did occur, and note they were ready, they were prepared and satisfied with their waiting, hoping and expectations. For Simeon it was comfort and for Anna it was redemption. Whatever the reason or purpose, Worshiping God While We Wait is vitally important. So, let me ask you this morning, are you worshiping the living God as you wait? You may be thinking, if Christmas is completed then why wait any longer? Is not Gods purpose done as prophesied? What else is there? This is where friends the three W’s are truly purposeful. As I stated earlier, Christmas is not done yet! Christmas is a long-standing remembrance that not only was God born in the flesh to save mankind from its sins, God had to be put to death and on the third day be risen from the grave in order to complete His prophecy of redemption for each and every person for the eternity to come. For us, Christmas is the start of it all. This is why Christmas is to be always remembered as joyous and uplifting 365 days, not just Dec. 25. No where in scripture do we find a single obligatory mark of hate, disregard and evil in the nativity story from God, but only from man. It’s all strictly designed to be of the one and only thing that can and will save us—truth! As we Worship While Waiting, listen to what Paul tells us “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” “so also Christ, offered once to take away the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to take away sin but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.” Note carefully, will appear a second time and to those who eagerly wait for Him.
In closing friends on this wonderful Christmas eve, I know it is not easy for us to wait patiently let alone worship in the midst of unknowns, uncertainties of life but remember for those of us who have already placed our faith in Christ, the challenge for us is to continue and anticipate his Second Coming and be ready. Christmas can and should be celebrated everyday of our lives. On the very day He returns, we’ll be comforted and taken care of. All things will be made right. Let this Christmas give you the most beloved, peaceful and joyous spirit that is beyond words. Remember always that as God came to us by way of a child, God is in all, through all and above all things. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
So how can we worship while we wait for God? Well first off how are we waiting? Revelation 21 tells us “Behold, I am making all things new.” This is where we have faith in God knowing as Romans 8:28 tells us “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” God has a great and ultimate purpose and plan for us today. Trust in Him. Next, we need to dispel fear in order to worship Him. Fear of the things that are uncertain, and good things will become to us in His best timing. We also need to loosen our fight for control. God understands our extreme emotions as Psalms 139 so fluently tells us. Stop wrestling with God and let Him take control. Then we need to “Trust in what you know to be true over what you feel to be true.” Truth is the only thing that will set us free. As we wait for God, the truth will always present itself. Listen to what the Psalms tells us I waited patiently for the Lord; And He reached down to me and heard my cry. He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the mud; And He set my feet on a rock, making my footsteps firm. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear And will trust in the Lord. This is the God of Christmas and not just on December 25th, but every day of the year.
In closing, I would like to share a poem I wrote.
“If you look for me at Christmas, you won't need a special star. I'm no longer just in Bethlehem, I'm right there where you are. You may not be aware of me amid the celebrations. You'll have to look beyond the stores and all the decorations. But if you take a moment from your list of things to do and listen to your heart, you'll find I'm waiting right there with you. I am not only present during songs and celebrations, but I move throughout the year to save souls and make preparations. You're the one I want to be with, you're the reason that I came, and you'll find me in the stillness as I'm whispering your name. So go forth throughout the year, spreading Christmas love to the far and near, witnessing to others of what has happened, and sharing My love to the forgotten and abandoned. Love, Jesus”