Saturday Rambling

Saturday Rambling

Good morning and happy Saturday. 

Today is one of those interesting days in ministry.  This morning I am doing a memorial service and then I am off to the church to prepare for our two Christmas parties.  We are doing them for the families of the youth and children in our discipleship on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.  At each party, I will have the opportunity to share the Christmas story with the families.  At first glance, it seems like these are unrelated activities.  However, they are not as disconnected as one may think.  I remember several years ago when I did a funeral at LBC on a Saturday morning.  Once I concluded that service, I walked down the hallway to the other end of the building where Upward basketball was going on.  Within the hour, I was doing the halftime devotional with the families in the gym, still wearing my suit and tie.  It was an interesting contrast.  At one end of the building, people had gathered dressed for a funeral.  The mood was more somber, some were mourning their loss while others came to offer their condolences.  At the other end of the building, people had gathered dressed for a sporting event.  There was a sense of excitement in the air.  Families were there to watch their kids play basketball, lead cheers, and eat the delicious food from the concessions stand.  I shared with them about the funeral service at the other end of the building and mentioned that some day each of us will make that journey to the other end of the hallway.  The question really becomes, “Will you be ready?”

The Christmas story does focus on the birth of Jesus.  We celebrate the arrival of the Christ-child born in the manger.  We love to hear about the shepherds and the angels.  We think about the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes.  We even fast-forward to the arrival of the magi bearing their gifts.  However, all of that is only part of the story.  The arrival of the Messiah had been foretold for centuries.  The birth of Jesus was the fulfillment of prophecy.  And His birth was just the beginning of His ministry here on earth.  In reality, Jesus was born so that He could ultimately die on the cross for the sins of mankind.  In Luke 2:10-12, the angel declared, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: 11 Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.”  With that, the heavenly host broke out in praise, glorifying God.  As Jesus began His earthly ministry, He sought to teach people about who He truly is – the Son of God, the Messiah, the Savior that was to come.  Some believed Him while most rejected Him. Many refused to believe that this humble servant of the Lord could be the Messiah.  Ultimately, this rejection led to His death on the cross. However, that was not a defeat but rather the outworking of the plan of God.  After Jesus rose from the grave, He appeared to His disciples to help them understand and believe.  Before He ascended to heaven, this is what He shared with them:44 He told them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 46 He also said to them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead the third day, 47 and repentance forforgiveness of sins will be proclaimed in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Luke 24:44-47).  Finally convinced that Jesus is the Messiah, the disciples spent the rest of their lives sharing the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ.  The apostle John clearly states the purpose of his Gospel with these words:30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:30-31)

As we celebrate Christmas this year, let us not lose sight of the fact that the story is about much more than the birth in a manger.  It is part of the redemption story that God has written for all mankind.  He came, He lived, He died, and He arose again.  All so that you might believe in Him and trust Him for your salvation.  The greatest gift ever is available to you this Christmas.  If you have never trusted Jesus, why not do so this Christmas season?

But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

From our neighborhoods to the nations,

Pastor Larry

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