An unforgettable Christmas
Give of yourself
This Christmas 1 of 3 things will happen. You will either be ahead of schedule, on the ball, or fall behind. We all have our own way of doing things.
Fortunately we have someone in our family that keep things moving, mainly my wife. Just last week after church she had us, not so willingly I might add, put up the Christmas tree. I am glad she did, after all it will be nice to enjoy it through out the Christmas season.
This Christmas God wants us to have an unforgettable Christmas, like the people who experience first Christmas. To do so, look what happened to them and it can also happen to us.
Let us first look at Mary, the earthly mother of Jesus. Her story is found in Luke 1:26-38 and says to us to have an unforgettable Christmas, give of yourself.
I. Realizing we are chosen
Like you I like many things about Christmas. The bright lights o the homes and lawns; they are so warm and inviting. Andover always has some familiar lights and adds a few new things each year.
I like the music of Christmas – familiar Christmas carols, some redone by new groups and artists. Reliant K has a Christmas CD that is a lot of fun.
I like the giving. Now I am not a shopper so don’t call me to go with you. In fact I finally figured out why I don’t like Christmas shopping. It’s not the finding a parking place, the crowds, or even the time involved. It is the fact that everyone else around me seems to know what I am doing and I am often clueless as to what to buy for people. After all, I want to find the right gift that brings a smile to the person I have found it for.
I like Christmas food. My grand mother spoiled me on Christmas cookies. Her house was a menagerie of cookies and confections each Christmas. Some I still find available others uniquely grandma’s and dearly missed.
At the same I have some concerns about Christmas. It’s not that it is too commercial – although shortly after Holloween I noticed stores already putting out Christmas stuff. It’s not about the money. After all it is true that you can’t take it with you but we should not overspend. Ill. Just the other day I received a catalog that had written across the cover in big red letters, “It’s not too late.” Someone ahs quipped we are all being set up to spend money we don’t have, on things they don’t need, for people we don’t even like.
My concern is this – we can so caught up in Christmas ad not be really into Christmas. Into what God may want us to do this Christmas season. Think about it. People are more open and receptive to God at Christmas perhaps more than any other rime of year.
Ill. Just recently a local news channel ran a survey on the seasonal greeting of choice. Did people prefer Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas won hands done, 84% choosing this greeting. We need to be in on what God may want us to do this Christmas. How? First, realize we are chosen by God to touch lives for Him.
God revealed this to Mary, through Gabriel that first Christmas. Notice verse 28, “Greetings, you who are highly favored, the Lord is with you.” Vs. 30, “you have found favor with God.” Verse 31, “You will be with child.” “You will give him the name Jesus.”
Mary was chosen to bring Jesus into the world. Highly favored, the Lord is with you. Now I am sure every Jewish girl was told growing up that the Messiah was coming, and maybe she would be chosen by God to be his mother. Do you think for a moment that this young lady thought she would be chosen? Highly favored? Probably not.
We all like Christmas. We get cards, send card. Bake and eat. Buy, wrap, and open. Get with family and friends. Yet do you stop long enough to realize we have been chosen by God to bring Jesus into the lives of the people each day as well as Christmas?
Are you sure? Yes I am. 1 Peter 2:9 says… We have chosen to touch lives for Christ, 24 7. Now I don’t know what is your grade you, the sports or activities your in, I only know that young people you have been chosen to touch lives at school are among the young people in our community. I don’t know where all of you work, your neighborhood, family members or friends. I do know you are chosen to touch lives for Jesus. Listen, because people are more open at this time of year, we need to realize and don’t forget that the Lord is with us.
Ill. Recently the news has been carrying the peace conference between Israel and the Palestinians. Since 1940’s this area of the world has been in turmoil and we would like to see it happen. The former president Bill Clinton took a stab at it; maybe another attempt will be fruitful. Just like our country feels led to bring other nations together to make peace, as Christians we need to realize we are chosen to bring people to God so they can experience His peace in their lives. Be aware this Christmas you are chosen to do this, this Christmas.
II. Recognizing our opportunities.
Another concern I have each Christmas is not what I do. I’ll get out my cards, decorate the yard, and even eventually go shopping. I usually take Jonathan he helps me find things and has the same short-term tolerance I have for shopping. My concern is not what Id o it lies in what I may overlook or forget to do.
Inevitably I’ll get a card from someone I wish I had sent a card. Now I know some people keep last years cards to make sure they get things straight or keep other cards ready to send out to hurry and send one in such a situation. But it is not the same is it? Another thing is getting a gift that is so kind and thoughtful I am left wishing I would a have thought to do something for that giver. Now before one of you jumps me after church and says that is not why we give gifts, I know that. I just don’t want people thinking I don’t appreciate them. I don’t want to miss an opportunity to touch the people in my life nor around me, either do you.
That first Christmas Mary was given a great opportunity. She was to be the earthly mother of Jesus. She would bring the Savior of all into the world. WOW! Later on in this chapter she would say, “From now on all generations we call me blessed,” 1:48. She brought into our world and lives the greatest blessing ever known. Mary was given a great opportunity and so are we. Her opportunity would allow her to touch the whole world; we in like fashion are to touch the whole world one life at a time.
I like the saying; maybe you have heard it. I am only one. But still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.
How can we recognize the opportunities we have and be open to touch lives for Jesus this Christmas?
Touch them the James way. James 1:19. Learn to listen to people, really listen. There are people around us every day that are trying to tell us they are hurting. Develop the ability to hear what they are saying and ask God to help you hear what they are not saying.
Touch them the Jesus way. Acts 10:38. The word good here means beneficial, that which benefits others. Now I don’t believe in good Karma or bad Karma. That is some strange far-eastern pagan religion thing. I do believe as Christians we should look for ways to be good to people, this kindness among others can be rare. So why not take it upon yourself to warmly greet people each day, help those that have their arms full, don’t gossip or get caught up in small talk about others. Keep short tabs and forgive those that may mistreat you for whatever reason. Matthew 7:12 reminds us…
Touch them the Phillip way. John 1:45-46. Notice what Phillip didn’t do. He didn’t argue with Nathaniel or say such things as; you should feel that way. He judged Nate as neither open nor receptive. He simply invited him to come see Jesus. People will give you 1001 reasons as to why they don’t’ go to church. Simply tell them, come to our church and see if it doesn’t bless you. If not, I’ll take you to McDonald’s afterwards; remember McD’s has a dollar menu.
Touch them the Paul way. Acts 17:16-17. Maybe something is going to prick your heart this Christmas and you will feel led to say something. Perhaps you have watched someone struggle for some time and even though you can’t imagine how he or she must feel you feel led to tell them what God ahs done for you. How he can help them as well.
This Christmas recognize your opportunities to touch lives for Jesus.
III. When you see them, receive your assignment.
God sure gave out some interesting assignments that first Christmas. To an old couple, Zechariah and Elizabeth. Can you imagine this couple, apart of the Geritol gang, who were in the 70 and older coffee clutch at the Nazareth Mac Donald’s, walking in one day pushing a baby stroller. God sure gave out some interesting assignments; why their friends were napping in the afternoon they were trying to get the baby to do so.
Then the assignment given to Joseph and Mary. They were engaged to be married. Can you imagine the town talk, the stares as this young couple walked the streets of Nazareth? The amount of no’s they receives to the RSV’s for their wedding reception because of Mary’s precarious condition? Yes God gives out some interesting assignments.
If you dare to realize your are chosen to touch lives for Christ, and are really open to the opportunities to do so, you too may receive a strange assignment. You may be led to make a phone call offering forgiveness; pay a visit to a nursing home, take a trip to a place you haven’t been for years. Or to reach out to a neighbor who has lost a love one; help a young family struggling to make ends meet; invite someone in your home that is alone this Christmas.
I don’t know what your assignment may be.
I can tell you this. God assignments: Are not always timely. Ask Zechariah and Elizabeth. Who had no thoughts of starting a family at their age. They are not always easy, ask Mary who endured the ridicule, ejection and humiliation they experienced as they brought Jesus into the world. They are not always easily understood. Ask Joseph who until a dream was living a nightmare left to ponder how Mary could have done him wrong.
God’s assigns us what he does for 2 reasons: The good of the person we touch and the growth of the person doing the touching. Are you open to receiving your assignment?
Listen, to those that are we become apart of something bigger than ourselves. Luke 2:19 tells us that Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” If you will receive your assignment you too will experience a Christmas you will always treasure; the Christmas God led you to bring Jesus into someone’s life.
Conc. The young people at Shively Christian Church were fiercely competitive with their neighbor Shively Baptist in all things especially softball.
One week the Bible lesson came from John 13 about Jesus washing the feet of the disciples. The youth minister, David Stone, told their youth I want you to be Jesus in the city for the next two hours. If Jesus were here, what would he do? Figure out how he would help people.
Two hours later the kids reported back on what they had done. One group had done two hours of yard work for an elderly man. Another bought ice cream treats and delivered them to several widows in the church. A third visited a church member in the hospital and gave him a card. Another went to a nursing home and sang Christmas carols in the middle of August. One elderly resident remarked it was the warmest Christmas she could remember.
But when the fifth group reported what they had done every body groaned. This group had made its way over to Shively Baptist where they asked the pastor if he knew someone who needed help. He sent them to the home of an elderly woman who needed yard work done. For two hours they mowed, racked, and trimmed bushes.
When they were getting ready to leave, the woman called the group together and thanked them for their hard work. “I don’t know how I would get along without you,” she told them. “You kids at Shively Baptist are always coming to my rescue.”
“Shively Baptist!” Interrupted Pastor Stone. “I sure hope you set her straight and told her you were from Shively Christian Church.”
“Why no we didn’t,” the kids said. “We didn’t think it mattered.”
Invit. Matthew 1:12 – “He shall be called Jesus, he will save his people from their sins.”
