Tuesday, January 3, 2006
Tenth Christmas Day
Psalm 2:12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way . . .
CHRISTMAS REJOICING -- WITH TREMBLING
The Christmas season is a season of rejoicing. Mary was the first to rejoice, saying: "My spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior." The shepherds rejoiced, as did the aged Simeon, and the wise men. What gave them joy should give us joy too, for their Savior is our Savior. If we are human beings, the Christmas joy is for us, for this great joy is for all people.
"But he that believeth not shall be damned." Therefore we must listen to the words of the Second Psalm: "Serve the Lord with fear; and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and ye perish from the way."
Although it may seem impossible and contradictory, it is true: our rejoicing in the Christ-child must be mixed with trembling. Unbelievers either rejoice without trembling and go to hell in pride and security, or they tremble without rejoicing and go to hell in utter despair. But the Christian life is a life of rejoicing with trembling, rejoicing in what God has given us in the Christ-child, and trembling lest by our own sin and weakness we lose what God has given us.
This is what is missing in much of the Christmas celebrating of our day. There is some kind of rejoicing there, but where is the trembling? Who is afraid of grieving the Christchild by his life? Who is afraid of losing the blessings of the Christchild by an over-indulgence in worldly cares or pleasures?
Where is the trembling in our own lives? When we rejoice in the Christchild at Christmas time, does the thought ever occur to us that we may lose out on His blessings by our disobedience?
We can and should be absolutely sure of God's forgiveness and His love, but never sure of ourselves. We can sing with Luther:
What harm can sin and death then do?
The true God now abides in you.
Let hell and Satan rage and chafe,
Christ is your Brother -- ye are safe.
