EXCITED ABOUT HIM

(Post by: Madie Hobbs) Blogmas Day Sixteen

I think many of us can agree that our society looks down upon the family unit. Recently, I believe some of us would even go so far as to say the world is seeking to destroy it and is doing a pretty good job of it. 

Something I have been noticing quite a bit on social media, are posts completely degrading family get-togethers. People are letting the entire world know the last thing they want to do is spend Christmas with the people they are simply obligated to call “family”. As someone who is not close with their extended family, I won’t be coy and pretend I haven’t experienced the same disposition as these others on social media. 

With these posts, I have been incredibly disappointed to see many Christians making statements such as, “Well, I’ll just keep my mouth shut when it comes to anything pertaining to politics” or, “I’m just not going to say anything about Jesus during Christmas dinner, because you know it will just lead to a fight”. I’m not saying this may not be the case in some of your lives, but what if we have been approaching these issues entirely wrong? 

This summer, I read, for the first time, what is now one of my favorite books. This Present Darkness, by Frank Peretti, was an unbelievably incredible eye-opener for me, and it is a story I think about almost daily. If you’d like to read a more in-depth description of the plot, you can check out a post I wrote about it in September, here. 

One of the characters you travel through the story with is a young pastor, by the name of Hank Busche. He was a prayer warrior if ever there was one, and he frequently made a habit of walking around Ashton, the small town where his church was situated, praying for its residents. While carrying out this typical routine, the Lord highlights to him a young man by the name of Ron, who has been possessed by a fraction of the many demons overriding Ashton. God distinctly tells Hank that he is to cast these spirits out and help Ron, which Hank does, even if after a little hesitation. 

It’s a task, but through the power of the Holy Spirit, and the angels protecting Hank, the demons are forced to leave, and Ron is free from the torment he has been experiencing. After this is done, however, Hank doesn’t simply invite him to his church and leave. Instead, he spends time getting to know Ron, whose parents were already attending Hank’s church, and he talks with him about everyday subjects, with just a little something special thrown in. 

This is how the author describes the scene: 

“They talked. They talked about school, the town, Ron’s folks, drugs in general and particular, Hank’s church, the Christians who were around, and Jesus. Ron began to notice that no matter what the subject or issue, Hank had a way of bringing Jesus into it. Ron didn’t mind. This wasn’t like a phony sales pitch; Hank Busche really believed that Jesus was the answer to everything. So, after talking about everything else with Jesus brought into it, Ron let Hank talk about Jesus, just Jesus. It wasn’t dull. Hank could really get excited about Him.” 

I’ve loved this scene since the first moment I read it, and I believe it is far more applicable to Christmas than some of us may at first think. 

You see, I think some of us tend to get tunnel vision when it comes to broaching the subject of Jesus, especially during situations that are sometimes as awkward as family gatherings. We tend to act like it’s either all Jesus, or all shop talk. All Jesus, or all salon gossip. All Jesus, or all sports. 

But does this not defy everything our Messiah desires from us? 

The point of Jesus coming to earth in the first place was to enter into our lives, literally, and transform the shop talk, and the salon gossip, and the needless sports. Our Savior is one who desires every part of your heart, and mind, and speech, and yet we rob Him of the power to display Himself through these things around the people we may very well have the greatest influence over. 

This Christmas strive to have a family that notices the way Jesus cannot help but be manifested in everything you discuss. 

One post I specifically saw on social media was from a woman who said she would continually be sipping on a hot drink during family time, because her therapist told her drinking something warm was a good coping mechanism. 

For goodness’ sake, dear readers, when will we finally wrap our minds around the fact that Jesus is the ultimate antidote to these situations, and the only one who can make it so that you do not need a coping mechanism? 

He is the solution to our broken families. He is the solution to our dissatisfying relationships. He is the solution to awkwardness, and dread, and un-Christlike behavior. 

Let this Christmas season be the one where you strive to look at Jesus as both your King and your Friend, and the One you cannot help but mention in front of the people who need Him most. 

Let us display to our families, that we really can get excited about our Messiah. 

“That I did always love
I bring thee Proof
That till I loved
I never lived – Enough – 

That I shall love alway – 
I argue thee
That love is life – 
And life hath Immortality – 

This – dost thou doubt – Sweet – 
Then have I 
Nothing to show
But Calvary – 

Emily Dickinson, That I Did Always Love