Make 2014 the year for Sharing
“THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, 'MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE
LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.'" - Mark
1:3
The lights are down,
the ornaments are back in the boxes and the tree is no longer filling the
living room. My wife has done an amazing
job putting the house back together after putting all the Christmas decorations
away. It depresses me every year when we
transition from a neighborhood filled with twinkling lights, manger scenes,
inflatables and music synchronized displays back to the same old concrete,
trees and grass throughout the subdivision.
We spent a significant amount of time over the Christmas break looking
at Christmas lights and displays this year.
There is something magical about the beauty and the festive spirit of decorating
at this time of year, but alas the New Year has come and it’s time to move on.
In another 325 days or so we will trek back up into the attic and bring down the green and red boxes, the garland, the tree, the inflatables and the animated deer; and go through it all again. Often times though, once those boxes and bags are put in the attic, so is the spirit of Christmas. Without the daily reminder of shimmering lights on the horizon and twinkling in the darkness many of us will fail to acknowledge that the Christ child that we celebrate still lives within us throughout the year. At Christmas time we have an excuse to go out of our way to discuss Jesus Christ, His birth, His life and resurrection. As Christians, we are more willing to mention His name and talk about Him, without the fear of being judged or ridiculed by our neighbors, friends and co-workers during this time. Those who don’t believe, or refuse to accept are more tolerant to the topic for those 30 to 40 days around November and December each year.
So what if we didn’t stop talking about Him, but continued throughout the year? As the lights come down and the ornaments are boxed away, are you boxing up the King of Kings as well? Christmas is nothing more than the celebration of His birth. It’s not even the most significant event of His life, yet we go out of our way every year to decorate, sing, and carry on without fear or abandon. He was born so that He could demonstrate the love of God the Father to mankind and die for our sins to be reconciled. By all practical purposes His death and resurrection were the most significant events of His life. Yes, I realize we celebrate those in April; but I propose we should be more outgoing and demonstrative of His love and purpose throughout the entire year.
I understand we are not all called to be evangelists, preachers and teachers of the Word. It is not within the comfort level of most Christians to introduce friends, co-workers and neighbors to Jesus Christ or invite them to church on Sunday. You see, most Christian have an excuse at Christmas to carry the Good News throughout their sphere of influence. But, once those lights come down, so does their evangelistic spirit. It is apparent that many are unwilling to share the salvation story beyond their own household and in some instances they won’t even do it there. Many, if not most, are willing to accept the redemptive grace of the Father for themselves, but are unwilling to help others come to an understanding. Once the box has been checked on their life, many feel their work is done and leave others to discover this salvation on their own. They don’t want to offend someone, or bring tension into a friendship. They have a comprehensive knowledge of the eternal outcome facing loved ones and friends who don’t believe, yet they are unwilling to have a conversation about it.
We are all called to share the Good News of the Father’s grace, plan of salvation and eternal peace with others. In Mark 16:15 Jesus tells us directly, “He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” This message was for all believers, not just for the few gathered in that upper room. That includes you, me and every other individual who has gratefully accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. For to accept Him as your Savior and not be concerned about the salvation of those around you, is an example of prideful arrogance and self-righteousness; not the love and peace that Christ has instilled within you. Do not allow the spirit of Christmas to fall into the shadows of your attic this year. Nurture it, grow in your faith and in your confidence to boldly stand before those around you and proclaim that Jesus Christ is the Messiah and will come again to enter us into a day of judgment.
In another 325 days or so we will trek back up into the attic and bring down the green and red boxes, the garland, the tree, the inflatables and the animated deer; and go through it all again. Often times though, once those boxes and bags are put in the attic, so is the spirit of Christmas. Without the daily reminder of shimmering lights on the horizon and twinkling in the darkness many of us will fail to acknowledge that the Christ child that we celebrate still lives within us throughout the year. At Christmas time we have an excuse to go out of our way to discuss Jesus Christ, His birth, His life and resurrection. As Christians, we are more willing to mention His name and talk about Him, without the fear of being judged or ridiculed by our neighbors, friends and co-workers during this time. Those who don’t believe, or refuse to accept are more tolerant to the topic for those 30 to 40 days around November and December each year.
So what if we didn’t stop talking about Him, but continued throughout the year? As the lights come down and the ornaments are boxed away, are you boxing up the King of Kings as well? Christmas is nothing more than the celebration of His birth. It’s not even the most significant event of His life, yet we go out of our way every year to decorate, sing, and carry on without fear or abandon. He was born so that He could demonstrate the love of God the Father to mankind and die for our sins to be reconciled. By all practical purposes His death and resurrection were the most significant events of His life. Yes, I realize we celebrate those in April; but I propose we should be more outgoing and demonstrative of His love and purpose throughout the entire year.
I understand we are not all called to be evangelists, preachers and teachers of the Word. It is not within the comfort level of most Christians to introduce friends, co-workers and neighbors to Jesus Christ or invite them to church on Sunday. You see, most Christian have an excuse at Christmas to carry the Good News throughout their sphere of influence. But, once those lights come down, so does their evangelistic spirit. It is apparent that many are unwilling to share the salvation story beyond their own household and in some instances they won’t even do it there. Many, if not most, are willing to accept the redemptive grace of the Father for themselves, but are unwilling to help others come to an understanding. Once the box has been checked on their life, many feel their work is done and leave others to discover this salvation on their own. They don’t want to offend someone, or bring tension into a friendship. They have a comprehensive knowledge of the eternal outcome facing loved ones and friends who don’t believe, yet they are unwilling to have a conversation about it.
We are all called to share the Good News of the Father’s grace, plan of salvation and eternal peace with others. In Mark 16:15 Jesus tells us directly, “He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” This message was for all believers, not just for the few gathered in that upper room. That includes you, me and every other individual who has gratefully accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. For to accept Him as your Savior and not be concerned about the salvation of those around you, is an example of prideful arrogance and self-righteousness; not the love and peace that Christ has instilled within you. Do not allow the spirit of Christmas to fall into the shadows of your attic this year. Nurture it, grow in your faith and in your confidence to boldly stand before those around you and proclaim that Jesus Christ is the Messiah and will come again to enter us into a day of judgment.
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