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The Man Who Missed Christmas

Luke 2:8-11

8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, 11Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.


This year Black Friday seemed to be in all the headlines. “To help save the American economy- SHOP!” Media outlets encouraged us to get out and spend, spend, spend! “If you do have the cash then charge it!” One ad proclaimed. It pains me to see that as we begin the Season of Advent. (Advent means the arrival of an event or a person.) The birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ… All we can think about is the material aspects of our lives. What about the true meaning of Christmas. When a Wal-Mart opened in New York the day following “Thanksgiving” a man was trampled to death! A mob of people, I am sure many would claim to be Christians, put material things over a person’s life, A life that God gave. Some would say it was simply God’s will and I do not accept that as an excuse for the behavior of these so called followers of Christ.

What could be so valuable, so important, so electrifying as to kill a person for it; Perhaps they were offering Salvation in a bottle for sale. No! That is free and I certainly do not see folk fighting like this on Sunday Moring to get into church. Nevertheless, this young man lost his life. He will certainly miss Christmas this year. I pray for his family and I pray that God strengthens them during this time of bereavement. I admit that this was an unusual situation, but it shows what we value more than God’s gift of life.

But do you know what is more common? People who willingly miss Christmas every year! Year after year folk are missing Christmas. Do you understand what I mean by that? There are folk who buy and receive presents; They decorate their homes and trees; They make appearances at the appropriate number of parties and church programs, but they miss the opportunity to savor the splendor and contemplate the mystery of God's love made visible through Jesus.

One of the things that we must fully realize about Christmas is that it is something which totally changed the world. The world will never be the same! We celebrate the birth of Jesus because his birth literally changed the world. His birth changed our position with God. His birth changed how we think about the world. The world can often be a very cruel and harsh place as evident by the actions of the mob at Wal-Mart.

Jesus was born into a harsh world and even his birth caused such Jealousy and hatred in the heart of King Herod that he took steps to wipe out the innocent boys in Bethlehem the tragic irony of course is that despite such terrible bloodshed he missed his mark. But something was happening in the birth of Jesus that released into our lives a new phenomenon of salvation that had never been seen or experienced before.

The thing that Jesus has won for us with his birth followed by his death on the cross is forgiveness. The ushering in of the infant Jesus at Christmas is the beginning of the end for sin and death. In Jesus the Christ our sins are forgiven. The bible makes much of this and it can only be a result of obtuseness, stubbornness, selfishness, spitefulness, or spiritual blindness that the thinking person can deny this spiritual reality. This gift of forgiveness is the first step towards reconciliation with God. Of friendship with God – Jesus once said. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

Where was the love for this fallen man? Trampled to death for things people really did not need. What Christmas opens up for us is the possibility of being restored to God’s family. But you need to decide whether you are in or out. It is possible to be in and it is possible to be out. My beloved, I want to encourage you that if you are serious about celebrating Christmas this year, you may well need to cast your net on the other side.

You might have to move from your comfort zone, step out of that safe zone. You may need to pray for a person in a different life sphere than yourself like you have never prayed before. You may need to share the gospel in a way that you have never shared it before. I believe God wants us to move out from our comfort zone. Come! Step out of your safe zone and proclaim God’s love for you and the world! If we are to fulfill God’s purpose we need to change our minds about how we share the gospel and who we share it with. Be like the shepherds in the field and go tell some one of the good news! Better yet be a witness to the miracle and do not miss Christmas this year. Have a blessed week, In Jesus’ Name… Amen!

By: Elder Michael L. Hargett
Copyright 2008 © MinTech, Inc.

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