SEARCHING FOR ME!
CHRISTMAS EVE
John 1:11-12
12-24-10
18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.
19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.
21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
The owner of a company needed to call one of his managers about a sudden and important problem which needed to get quickly resolved.
He dialed the employees home phone number and was greeted with a child’s whisper, “Hello?”
Feeling put out at the inconvenience of having to talk to a child, the boss said, “Is your Daddy home?”
“Yes,” whispered the small child.
“May I talk to him?” the boss said.
To the surprise of the boss, the small voice whispered, “No.”
Wanting to talk with an adult, the boss asked, “Is your Mommy there?”
“Yes,” came the answer.
“May I speak with her?”
Again the small voice whispered, “No.”
Knowing that it was unlikely that a young child would be left home alone, the boss decided he would just leave a message with the person watching the child.
So he asked the child, “Is there anyone there besides you?”
“Yes, a policeman.”
Wondering what a police officer would be doing at his employee’s home, the boss asked, “May I speak with the policeman?”
“No, he’s busy,” said the child.
“Busy doing what?” asked the boss.
“Busy talking to Daddy and Mommy and the Fireman.”
Suddenly, through the phone the boss heard a strange sound, like a helicopter.
“What’s that noise?”
“It’s a hello-copter,” answered the child, still in a whispered voice.
“What is going on there?” the boss asked.
“The search team just landed the hello-copter.”
Alarmed, the boss asked, “What are they searching for?”
The young voice replied with a muffled giggle, “They’re searching for me!”
Two thousand years ago, a search party landed on earth, in a manger in Bethlehem.
It was a search party of one.
Jesus came to earth for one main reason: He came searching for you and I!
The Apostle John recognized this great truth — “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:11-12)
Here is The Greatest Story Ever Told in a nutshell: “He came searching for me!”
Maybe on this Christmas Eve you are finding yourself feeling a bit lost and estranged from God. Maybe you’ve been hiding from God, maybe it’s a feeling of embarrassment, of maybe you feel guilty about some things that you’ve done in the past, maybe you’re feeling unworthy to experience His love and grace.
Maybe you have some really good reasons. Maybe you’re justified in your thinking, because no good friend would want to hang with you after what you’ve done, after what you’ve become. It all makes sense to you, and frankly, it’s easier and safer to run and hide, than to face the facts.
But, please understand this . . . God doesn’t like that feeling of estrangement anymore than you do. In fact, He came . . . tonight . . . looking for you.
You see, God isn’t like any ordinary friend. He will never abandon you, He will not forsake you, He will not abandon you. It does not matter how bad you are,
it doesn’t matter if you’re like King David and commit murder and adultery.
It doesn’t matter if you’re not sure about trusting so you lie, like Abraham
It doesn’t matter if you sell your body like Rahab.
It doesn’t matter if you drank too much, like Noah.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a hot head like Peter.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a doubter like “doubting Thomas.”
It doesn’t matter if you’ve been licensed to kill Christ followers, like Paul.
Folks, it doesn’t matter. None of it does when you come to Christ. He loves you, He came for you. It was a divinely orchestrated search party. He came looking for you. And now you’re here.
Let tonight be the night when you let God find you!
Remember the true meaning of Christmas. Two thousand years ago, that helicopter from God landed in Bethlehem. And out stepped a search party of one.
He came searching for you and I. He’s calling you, do you hear His voice? He’s quietly calling you. Will you respond? Open your heart. For Jesus is calling you.
Accept Him
Embrace Him as He embraces you.
