The 12 Days of Christmas

People love to find hidden meaning in songs. Many claim the song “The 12 Days of Christmas” was written so people could remember their faith in times of persecution. Day one referring to Jesus, Day 2 to the Old and New Testaments, Day 3 to the Trinity or the three gifts of the wise men, Day 4 to the Gospels, Day 5 to the Torah (the first five books of the Bible), Day 6 to the days of creation, Day 7 to the seven sacraments, Day 8 to the eight Beatitudes, Day 9 to the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit, Day 10 to the Ten Commandments, Day 11 to 11 faithful apostles, and Day 12 to the doctrines in the Apostle’s Creed. It’s interesting, but there’s no real truth to it.

     There’s no harm in finding meaning in the song, but there’s also no harm in simply enjoying the song as it is – about a person who tried to show his or her true love with different gifts.

     The truth is more exciting. The 12 days of Christmas was part of the Christian worship calendar focusing on the time between the celebration of Jesus’ birth, and the festival of Epiphany, celebrated on January 6. Epiphany commemorates the first manifestation of Jesus to the Gentiles, represented by the Magi who came to see Jesus, as well as the first manifestation of Jesus’ divinity, which occurred at his baptism in the Jordan River. The period of time between Christmas and Epiphany was called the 12 days of Christmas or 12 days of focusing on Jesus.

       The early church believed the incarnation was too vital to simply observe for one day and then put aside for the year. Christmas is not a day; it’s an event that changed everything. As the early church fathers pointed toward Lent and Easter, they saw the need to first focus on Jesus’ life.

     The fact Jesus was worshipped by the Magi was significant – Gentiles worshipped the Son of God. These astrologers from the East recognized who Jesus was before the Israelite leaders had a clue. The religious leaders rejected the one worshipped by the wise ones of the world. Interesting thought to ponder.

     Most don’t celebrate the 12 days of Christmas, but neither should we go forward as if Christmas is over. Jesus born and lying in a manger is the incarnation – when God became flesh. But from that day forward our life with Christ begins and we proclaim Emmanuel – God dwelling among us. Let’s never stop celebrating that Good News.  – Rick

No Separation

“The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love, he will exult over you with loud singing as on a day of festival,” (Zephaniah 3:17).  

I spent most of my life believing I was separated from God because of my sins and I had to work to get back into his good graces. I grew up believing God was like my dad, he was ultra strict, quick to punish and someone to fear more than love.

     Scriptures like the one above, or Romans 8:35-39, which speaks of God’s amazing love, baffled me. How could God love me when I was so far removed from him?

     I did not understand incarnation. I did not realize that incarnation refers to God taking on flesh, and not just any flesh, but all carnal flesh. “In carnal flesh,” is how some define incarnation. I did not understand that Jesus came to show us we were not separated – at least on the part of God.

     God never separated himself from man; we turned our back on him. He never stopped loving us; we simply stopped loving him. We determined we didn’t need God and, because of his love for us, he never forced himself on us. We built the gap of separation and then we blamed the gap on him. We believed the lie that God was too holy to be in our presence. We believed the lie that God could not be in the presence of sin. Further, we fell for the lies that we are not good enough, or worthy or loved. This is not the gospel.

     The incarnation tells us the truth about God’s love. “For he so loved the world…” The gospel is not that we can receive Jesus into our lives; the amazing and good news of the gospel is that Jesus has received us into his life. He’s brought us into the relationship he lives and shares with the Father and the Spirit. The gospel – or good news – is that we are in a union with Christ. At the very core of our being is Jesus Christ, in union with us and with the world. The good news is that we are good, we are worthy, we are loved, we are already in Christ and he is in us.

     God became flesh (incarnation) so he could dwell among us (Emmanuel). No separation. That is Good News!  – Rick

Love Much and Love Well

“I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you, will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil 1:6).  

The “good work” Paul was referring to in his letter to the brethren in Philippi, was “partnership in the gospel” (verse 4). They were working together sharing the good news of the gospel. Because of this partnership, Paul told them whenever he thought of them he gave glory and praise to God.

     Reading this passage gives me pause to thank God for the many partnerships I’m involved with. My good marriage is the result of a good partnership – with Cheryl and me working toward the same goals. The ministry we do here in Christ Fellowship Church is the result of many people working together – in partnership – to make an impact in our church family and community. And the mission we are involved in is the direct result of our partnering with other ministry leaders around the globe, and with God in sharing his love with others.

     I’m also blessed to represent CFC in partnership with the denomination’s International team as we work together to share the Gospel around the world. And I’m blessed to work in partnership with our Church Administration team to encourage and support pastors and leadership teams around the region.

     But the best partnership of all – a partnership each and every one of us is a part of – is our partnership with Jesus in his grace, (see verse 7). The free grace that Jesus gives us reminds us that he was and is willing to share of himself with us and make us partners in his glory.

      Because we are partners in his glory – as a result of living in his grace – we know we are never alone in what God has called us to do. He never asks us to reach out to someone he hasn’t already reached out to. He never asks us to partner with someone he hasn’t already partnered with. And he never asks us to love someone he doesn’t already love.

     Paul sums up this partnership this way: “So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well” (1 Phil 1:10, MSG). Like Paul, it is my constant prayer that we partner with each other and with God by loving much and loving well.