Has Christmas changed your quiet time?
I know it sounds like a strange question. You might not think Christmas has any direct impact on your quiet time. But it does.
Before Christmas, the only way people could access God was through a system of priests and sacrifices. The high priest was the only one who could come into God’s presence without being destroyed. And he could only do that once a year after an extensive purification process and sacrifices.
When God’s promised Savior, Jesus, came into the world, He became the ultimate sacrifice. He made sinful people righteous and opened a way for us to go directly to the holy God.
We no longer need a priest or a sacrifice to have a relationship with God!
However, many Christians continue to approach God in a similar way to the old testament Jews. We continue to look to other people to help us grow in our relationship with God, rather than going directly to God Himself through Jesus Christ.
Before Christmas, people didn’t have a choice. They couldn’t access God directly. We can.
We have unhindered, direct access to God.
John, one of Jesus’ closest disciples, wrote about the time He saw Jesus in unveiled glory, seated in heaven.
“One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead.” (Revelation 1:13-17)
No natural human can dream of approaching our holy God to talk to Him.
The only reason we, as Christians, can approach God is because of Jesus. He laid aside His glory, clothed Himself in humanity, took upon Himself all of our sin, and died the death we deserved. Then, He took all of His righteousness and put it on everyone who accepts His sacrifice by faith.
“Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus … let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:19-22, emphasis mine)
Yes, our God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29). Yet because of Jesus, we don’t need to be afraid to bring our requests to Him. We don’t need to fear worshiping at His feet.
Christmas changed that. The holy God became a man and dwelt among us. For the first time in history, people beheld His glory and were not consumed.
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
Because Jesus came to this earth, we can come directly to God. While other people like a pastor or mentor are helpful in discipleing us in our faith, we should never treat them as the Israelites treated the priest. A mentor is not a mediator between God and us. Jesus Christ is that mediator.
God has made a way through Jesus for us to have direct, unhindered access to Himself. This is the most incredible, undeserved gift.
We have the key to understanding the Bible
In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul says, “until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed [only] in Christ. But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil [of blindness] lies over their heart; but whenever a person turns [in repentance and faith] to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” (2 Corinthians 3:14-16, AMP)
Paul is saying that when people read the Old Testament, they cannot understand what it’s talking about. It’s like they have a veil over their eyes so they cannot see what is right in front of them. That veil is only taken away in Christ; when someone believes in Jesus, they can understand the law.
To this day, the Jewish people debate the significance of the sacrifices and who the prophets are speaking about. For those of us who believe in Jesus Christ, there is no debate. Clearly, the sacrifices point to Jesus, and the promised Messiah is also Jesus!
Jesus is the key to understanding the Bible.
Again, while resources like this blog, books, and podcasts, are helpful tools in getting a deeper understanding of the Bible, we don’t need them to be nourished by God’s word.
Jesus Himself gives us understanding.
We have the key to the Word of God and access to the Person who wrote the book
We don’t need someone else to help us understand the Bible anymore. We don’t need another person to help us connect to God. We can come directly to Jesus. He is more than willing to listen to our requests, to forgive us our sins, and to help us understand His word.
This Christmas season, don’t waste this precious gift. Dive into your Bible asking Jesus to open your eyes to behold Him afresh. Come and worship boldly at His feet without fear. Pour out your heart to Him and give thanks that we can know Him intimately because of His Son Jesus Christ.