The greatest gift-Presents or presence
Matthew chapter 2:1-2:11
I want to challenge you a little this last Sunday before Christmas. I want to invite you to join us on Christmas Eve as we celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.
I want you to think about a few things:
Remember the birth of Christ-
both today and Christmas Eve service and everyday of your life.
Preparing for Christmas- so that you do not miss it in the hustle and rush of the season.
Getting your stress level to where it needs to be so that you are not running around like a person who has just drank 10 cups of coffee and 10- 5 hour power boast drinks.
I want you to think about presents… not boxes or bags. Presence…
”having a relationship with the Lord.”
Matthew 2:1- 2:11 Text this morning
Christmas is a time of giving.
It is a time that we remember and want to thank those who have been a part of our last year.
It is a time of shopping.
Notice ever since the Magi came to see Christ-child people have been giving gifts- most of the time exchanging gifts.
It was a little more complicated than when the wise men from the East brought their finest gifts.
Just an observation- they didn’t bring a bag full of numerous gifts. The bag that never seems to empty.
They each brought their finest gift to give to the Christ child.
They did not have to worry about size, quanity, color, and the day after they gave it, they didn’t take their gift back to the store and exchange it by standing in a long line of other dissatisfied people.
Their gift was their best to the Christ child.
The recorded words here was not focused on what they brought each other, it was on what they brought to Christ.
The most important gift we have ever been given was God incarnate.
That baby Jesus who would fulfill all prophecy.
The one who could forgive sins and gave us the gift of eternal life.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.
Most read that as…
”For God so loved the world, that He gave His only forgotten Son.”
Let me bring the first point- Christ is the greatest gift-
“I no longer call you servants, because servant does not know his masters business, instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I have learned from my Father I have made known to you” john 15:15
That you and I may know the only true God….Jesus Christ …whom God sent for us as a gift.
Kids, you won’t like this…
The greatest gift to your children is not in a box.
The most valuable gift is in relationship. Your love, your care, your time, your attention.
God’s greatest gift is a relationship with Jesus Christ.
You never have to worry about if it fits, out grow it, wear it out, break it- this gift never loses it’s value.
Most of us do not see in Christ in the Nativity Scene. They do not see the Prince of Peace, The Savior of the world. They see commercialized Christmas with Christ taken out of Christmas. They cannot even spell out Christmas without taking Christ out and looking for a short cut.
2 Corinthians 9:15
“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift”
Question- How do you prepare for Christmas?
How do you keep from getting sucked up into the commercialized side of Christmas.
Here is probably what you do:
Clean the house
Put decorations up
Buy presents
Get food bought and made
Go buy presents that you forget.
Send Christmas cards
Send cards to people you forgot and they sent one to you
Make final preparation for guest.
Spend more money on presents you forgot.
That may not be exact, but I am close.
Some of you add office parties, youth activities, family parties, and by the end of it all…baau humbug! You cannot wait till it is over.
Your more like the Grinch than you think.
Ever notice, no one ever helps or volunteers to take the decorations down- because you have had enough Christmas.
All this brings me to the second point- overcoming the stress so that you can enjoy Christmas.
I love Christmas. As a pastor, it is one of the highlights of the year. Know how busy you are?
Add doing some additional services, ministering to more people in the community, phone ringing off the hook, this year adding house hunting and processing all that paperwork.
That makes me tired just thinking about it. I could use the ten cups of coffee I talked about before- throw in the power drinks.
7 Laws of Christmas (Sermoncentral)
1. The time you spend finding a parking space is inversely proportional to the amount of time you have to spend shopping.
2. The other check-out line is faster. If you don’t believe me, change lines and see what happens.
3. Beware of the three most feared words- Some assembly required.
4. The three most often overlooked words- Batteries not included.
5. When you return to the store to buy that gift your husband, wife, or child showed you the previous day, it is gone and they will not receive anymore.
6. If you hear a loud crash in the living room, your tree is lying on it’s side.
7. If your toilet is ever going to break or your sink plug up it will be when everyone is at your house celebrating.
Stress:
Annoys you
Threatens you
Worries you
Hurries you
Angers you
Frustrates you
Everything you need to “Enjoy Christmas”
Here is some stress relief
1. Set realistic goals for yourself. You cannot be Superman or Wonder Women
Quote- Being unprepared on your part, does not constitute an emergency on my part”
2. Remember why you are celebrating Christmas
Don’t lose focus
Don’t let the season of giving take you to the place of emptiness. (mine)
Poem
So this is Christmas, do you say?
But where is Christ this Christmas day?
Has He been lost among the throng”
His voice drowned out by empty song.
3. Decide to make a difference
Forgive someone- not because they deserve it, but because it is right.
Visit someone- who would be blessed by you coming?
Surprise someone- do something out of character.
Be kind to someone- Be a secret blessing to someone.
The last point this morning- “Presents or Presence”
Back to the text- Matt 2:8-11
“And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, go and search deligently for the young child; and when you have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. When they heard the King , they departed. And lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshiped him, and when they opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts, Gold, Frankinsence, and Myrrh.
Did you catch verse 11?
They came to where Christ was.
They searched for Him and found Him.
They fell down and worshiped Him.
They opened their treasures and presented them to Christ.
They opened up their hearts and lives and gave Him their very best.
So don’t forget about God’s begotten Son, and make it God’s forgotten Son.
I am not telling you to not give gifts-
I am telling you to not forget Jesus in the process.
Ask a serviceman or women what they want this Christmas. It would not be a present. It is the presence of their family.
Illustration- (sermoncentral)
A little boy paid a visit to Santa in the department store and presented him with a list of requests. A bicycle, a train, a bat and ball, a rocket set, and an airplane. Santa was impressed. He says, thanks for the list. I’ll check between now and Christmas to see weather or not you’ve been a good boy. The little boy reached over to take the list back and said, “never mind, I’ll settle for the bicycle.”
Closing:
It is presence over gifts.
The cradle without the cross means nothing. The story does not end at the cradle. But it does not end at the cross either. Each one shows the Agape love of God.
That Christ would come.
That Christ would die.
That Christ would resurrect.
That Christ would pay the price for each of us.
All this says how much God loves us. How much He loves You!
Closing illustration-
Altar call.
