“Chestnuts roasting on an open fire.” This is not something I have done before.  I have walked by chestnuts in the grocery star and sung about them, but I have never known the experience of roasting, or tasting one.

Much of life, during these days, is filled with ‘not something I have done before.’ On a much grander scale than roasting chestnuts, is the experience of doing a Covid19 Christmas. 

These are unique days with unique ways.  We have never passed this way before.  In the recesses of my mind I recalled a verse that spoke to this subject.  I found the story.  It is when God’s children, the Israelites, had completed 40 years of wandering in the desert and are preparing to move into the promised land, led by Joshua.  The Lord’s people are about to take their first steps along a new pathway. Perhaps their mouths, amidst the unsettledness, accompanied by uneasiness and uncertainty voiced, “We haven’t done this before.”  The gift is that the Lord promised to go ahead of them! We read:

“When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, …you are to move out from your positions and follow it. Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before” (Joshua 3:3-4). 

You don’t know the way.  You have never experienced it.  Let me go ahead.  Let me lead for THEN you will know which way to go. It does my heart and mind good to remind myself of this significant truth God offers his people. It is a truth we are reminded of in the Christmas story. Much of the journey for Mary and Joseph is one of ‘we haven’t gone this way before.’ The initial journey of pregnancy, and then travel to Bethlehem, was truly unsettling, but imagine further, hearing from God through an angel, “Get up. Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him” (Matthew 2:13).

The continued way for Jesus, as his life unfolded, was one never traveled before. It took full reliance on his Father to lead the way. In his journey…manger…to cross…to exalted One… we can rejoice!  On account of his journey we find companionship on our journey – He is Emmanuel God with us. 

It’s okay that we haven’t done this or gone this way before.  In all of life it is okay to acknowledge that we feel uncomfortable and unsettled.  As we do, we fix our eyes on the promise of “follow…then you will know which way to go.”

“Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Into each unknown way of life, we pray, “Come, Lord Jesus.”

104: Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus

1. Come, Thou long expected Jesus,
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.

All Thy people's consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

2. Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a Child and yet a king,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious Kingdom bring.

By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

Emmanuel, God with us, Expected One, these are not settled days. They are uneasy and often uncertain. Today, would you lift our faces towards you? Remind us that you promise to go ahead of us both in this day and into eternity. We pray especially for those who find faith and trust difficult. Restore their hope in you, Emmanuel. By your indwelling Spirit mark this Christmas with reminders of your faithful presence.  AMEN