Christmas Reminds Us

This message is an edited version of a sermon given at Loving God Fellowship. Copyright © 2007 Loving God Fellowship, Inc. http://www.LovingGodFellowship.org . You are encouraged to share this message with those you know that are hungry for God’s Word.

Christmas Reminds Us

By Rev. Greg Johnson

Romans 13:11-14

There was a woman who was doing her last-minute Christmas shopping at a crowded mall. She was tired of fighting the crowds. She was tired of standing in lines. She was tired of fighting her way down long aisles looking for a gift that had sold out days before. Her arms were full of bulky packages when the elevator door opened. It was full.

The occupants of the elevator grudgingly tightened ranks to allow a small space for her and her load. As the doors closed she blurted out, “Whoever is responsible for this whole Christmas thing ought to be arrested, strung up, and shot!” A few others nodded their heads or grunted in agreement. Then, from somewhere in the back of the elevator came a single voice that said, “Don’t worry. They already crucified him.”

We need to remember who is responsible for the whole Christmas thing. It is all about how God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son so that who ever believes in Him might have eternal life.

Christmas is a time to remember. During this time of the year we are reminded that God came into our world to make a difference in our life. Christmas also reminds us that Christ is coming again. Understanding the present time we are reminded to spiritually wake up, straighten up and to dress up.

REMINDED TO WAKE UP

All of us from time to time find ourselves lulled to sleep by what is going on around us in our day. As we live in the world, we are affected by it probably much more than we would like to admit. With so much competing for our time it’s easy to fall asleep spiritually. Before long we find ourselves neglecting those things that are necessary to stay in a red hot relationship with Jesus. Our Bible reading, prayer time, church attendance, proper stewardship of our time, talent and finances can all be impacted.

Christmas reminds us to wake up. God’s Word says (Romans 13:11 NIV) "And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed." Praise the Lord! Jesus is coming again and we are closer to it today than we have ever been. It’s a time to wake up spiritually, be ready and alert.

REMINDED TO STRAIGHTEN UP

When we are lulled to sleep by the world, we have a tendency to live like the world and not like a Christ follower. We find ourselves slipping backward instead of moving forward on our journey toward glory.

Christmas reminds us to straighten up. God’s Word says (Romans 13:12-13 NIV) "The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. {13} Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy." We are reminded to get rid of all behavior that is not Christ like. And the beauty of it all is that we are not on our own. Christ will help us as we wake up and fix our eyes on Him instead of the things of this world. We will find that as we follow Him, in our weakness He will be strong.

REMINDED TO DRESS UP

Christmas reminds us to display outwardly what has already taken place inwardly. God’s Word says (Romans 13:14 NIV) "Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature." As we clothe ourselves with Christ, our actions will reflect Christ. The way we talk, the way we live, the way we look at others will all be impacted significantly as we clothe ourselves with Christ and control our thinking. When the thinking comes into our mind of how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature, we remind ourselves that the old nature died with Christ on the cross. When it tries to resurrect itself through our thinking, we crucify it once again. We don’t even go there. We put those thoughts out of our mind.

Christmas is a great time of year. During the Christmas season, we celebrate God coming into our world the first time and we are reminded that He is coming again. Our day of total redemption is near. Salvation will be completed with the redemption of our bodies when Christ comes again. Be awake and be ready!