Teenager working on a Vacation Bible School craft in Central Asia
Galatians 4:21-5:1
“Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and the other by a free woman. One, the child of the slave, was born according to the flesh; the other, the child of the free woman, was born through the promise.” God’s promise wasn’t fast enough for Sarah so she took the bull by the horns and offered her Egyptian slave girl to her husband and Ishmael was born. Her actions did not cancel out God’s promise as Isaac was born several years later. This passage of scripture is relevant during the Christmas season because we see how our communities occasionally put their flesh before their Spirit during this glorious time. Have you ever pondered over the consequences of working so hard to make Christmas Day extraordinary, only to have it end in disappointment? Even small children often question the quality of the gifts as they open them.
Even those who do not know Jesus celebrate Christmas. There are beautiful parties with spectacular decorations, food, clothes, gifts and music as great anticipation builds for the 25th of December. Throughout the Bible we read how people shared feasts, rituals and fellowship. Occasionally, things got out of hand when their focus changed from holy things to mere human satisfaction. The Israelites waited hundreds of years for their prophesized Savior. Let’s not succumb to earthly values and attempt to force the “Best Christmas Ever” on our homes and churches. Let us exemplify what sharing and caring means. Let us learn from Sarah’s impatience and wait upon the Lord with loving hope and faith. After all, He has proven again and again that he always keeps his promises in his way and in his time.
Prayer: Through your Spirit and our faith working in love, help us wait for the Hope of Righteousness, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Patsy Eyachabbe is Program Advisor Group Member for the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference.