Christmas Checklist

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

What does your Christmas checklist look like?

This time of year we all seem to have checklists - things we still have to do before Christmas, items you may need to purchase, or places you have to be at a certain time.  Our checklists help us stay on top of all the demands of this busy season.

The apostle Paul gives us another list.  His list, though, are things we do not do to prepare for Christmas, but because Christmas has already happened.  We make our lists based on the perception of our current state or position.  Jesus Christ, who was born, lived, suffered, died, and rose from the grave brings peace to the sinner, brings forgiveness to the convicted, brings healing to the hurting and life to the dead.  These are accomplished truths found in the Christ Child who was Christ crucified and risen for us.

The list that Paul makes is not for people experiencing Christmas season busyness, but the Thessalonians who were being mocked, threatened, and even thrown into prison for their faith.  But what they were facing was not going to change who they were in Christ, Immanuel, God with them.

The first thing on Paul's list is - Rejoice always!  In the midst of the hectic pace of Christmas and with the pandemic on top of that for good measure - rejoicing always seems a lot easier said than done!  So how do we keep the joy that Paul speaks of?  Well, Christ prayed in His High Priestly Prayer for us to have His full measure of joy within us.  Jesus prayed that God would protect us from losing our joy to anything that can happen to us in this world.  Our joy begins and continues with Christ living in us - as He promises in His Word.

Second on Paul's list is - Pray without ceasing.  Jeremiah 33:3 says, "You call to Me and I will answer."  We call this prayer.  God speaks to us in His Word and we speak to God in prayer.  John Bunyan once said, "You can do more than pray after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed."  Jesus Himself tells us, "Apart from Me you can do nothing".  Ceaseless prayer says, "I wouldn't do anything without speaking with You first."

Give thanks - that's what's next on Paul's Christmas checklist.  Give thanks in all circumstances.  Our enemy, the devil, seeks to destroy our relationship with God.  Satan will send terrors, dangers, plagues, and disaster to crush our relationship with God through prayer and His Word.  Satan is adamant about destroying faith and the faithful of God.  

There are eight Hebrew words for praise or giving thanks.  My favorite is "Towdah" which means to thank God for things that haven't happened yet.  It means to thank God in advance knowing that all things will work out for our best.  We can say, "Towdah" because God is faithful - He will surely do it!

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances?!  No wonder Paul's Christmas checklist is so different than the worlds.  I encourage you to make Paul's checklist your Christmas checklist.  As long as we live in this world full of sin, there will be setbacks, pain, and struggle.  But because Christ is mangered in our lives - we rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances!