(ADVENT 22) Unwrapping Christmas: Security

When we struggle, when we encounter instability in our lives, we can go to our Rock, our strong foundation, and find hope and strength. Psalm 91 says:
1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust."

Later in that Psalm, we find the God is speaking directly to us:
14 "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation."

He holds us with His strong arms - as Psalm 46 tells us, He is our refuge and strength - His help is described as "ever-present."  We can be thankful during this season that God sent Jesus to earth so that we might come to Him and know true security and rest.  Even when things may feel out of control around us, we can look to the presence of the indwelling Christ and to His love displayed through His people, through His Church.

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We are now on Day 22 of "25: A Christmas Advent-ure," our Faith Radio Advent Guide; this year, our theme has been, Unwrapping Christmas, and we are continuing to "unwrap," or take a closer look at the gifts that God has given to us through Jesus Christ.

We are secure in Christ, and He is the One whom we can trust to build our lives on. When we feel shaky or unstable, we can know His abundant strength.  So, our theme for today is: security.

We can read in Psalm 46:
(1) God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling...

In the next few days, believers around the world will be celebrating the birth of our Savior.  That will possibly include one or more worship services.  Lifeway Research has done some studies about worship attendance on Christmas Eve, as well as Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

The Lifeway Research website notes that:

Half of U.S. Protestant pastors (48%) say a Christmas Eve service is their churches’ largest event during the holiday season, according to a Lifeway Research study. The frequency of the highest attendance events builds up to Christmas Eve and then tapers off into January.

Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research, stated: “Family and church traditions are most likely to coincide for Christmas Eve services, but many evangelical churches see the highest holiday attendance earlier in December.”

With Christmas Day being on a Sunday this year, Lifeway Research examined the impact that might have on worship services.  Another article says:

More than 5 in 6 U.S. Protestant pastors (84%) say their church plans to have services on Christmas Day, according to a Lifeway Research study. Slightly fewer (71%) say the same about Christmas Eve. While 85% plan on hosting New Year’s Day services on Sunday, 21% will have a Saturday New Year’s Eve gathering. Few pastors (2%) are not planning on having services on any of those days.

The article notes that the percentages on Christmas Day are slightly lower and New Year's Day are the same as six years ago, when those two days last fell on a Sunday. 

McConnell notes: "Families have many traditions on Christmas morning, and most pastors acknowledge not as many of their members will be present compared to Christmas Eve and services earlier in the month,” adding, “However, churches not holding services on Christmas Day are still the exception.”

The New York Times published an article recently about churches cancelling services on Christmas Day, as if there was some controversy out there - over 8-in-10 churches will be open this Sunday morning, just as they generally are the other 51 Sundays of the year.  Some have decided to close, and, as McConnell notes, pastors say worship attendance may be down.  But, this certainly should not be regarded as a controversy.

Yesterday's "gift" in our Advent series was: the body of Christ.  We can admit that we need the security of our Savior and the local church.  We can draw strength from those with whom we worship and serve.  When God's people come together, there is an opportunity for Him to work, through fellowship with one another and a heart for service. 

During this special season, we can also recognize the security that we have in Christ.  In an age of uncertainty, the message of Christmas is a message of hope and stability.  We can rely totally on God's love toward us and rest in Him.  When there is trouble, we can know Him, as Psalm 46 suggests, as our refuge and strength.