And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7
The first Christmas there was no room for the Lord Jesus in the inn. I'm afraid that today for many there will be no room for Jesus. There seems to be no room for Him in government. Many politicians are writing laws to ban any mention of His name.
There is no room for Him in the world of education. Public schools have banned His Word and expelled Him from being mentioned except in a blasphemous way. Even in the celebration we call Christmas, there is no room for Him. We have moved from Merry Christmas to Happy Holidays. No room for Him in 2010.
We make room for sports. We make room for parties, for food, for parades, for games, for pleasures. We have room for just about everything, but Him.
In 1958, the songwriter John W. Peterson wrote,
No room only a manger of hay
No room he is a stranger today
No room here in his world turned away
No room, No room, No room
No room here in the hearts of man kind
No room No cherry welcome could find
No room surely the world is blind,
No room, No room, No room
Angels in Heaven up yonder watch
With Amazement and wonder
To see the son of the Highest treated so,
no room, no room, no,room
Here was a pregnant girl and her husband and all they wanted was a room, and yet, they were turned away and ignored. You say, "Pastor, honestly, maybe he really didn't have any room." I know there was one room he could have given. That was his own. He could have given his own room. There was room.
This Christmas, why not give Him your room?
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Whose Birthday Party Is It?
The place was packed with the sounds of laughter, music, and conversations from the many family members and friends who had gathered to celebrate his birthday. The party was all about him. The food, the decorations, the pictures-it was all about his birthday.
Finally, they all gathered around and sang Happy Birthday, ate his birthday cake, hugged each other, and left. It was all about his birthday, yet no one gave him a gift.
Can you imagine such a scene as this? Yet, millions of people will spend millions of dollars on parades, parties, pageants, and possessions, but few spend anything for Him. Even those in His family will spend millions of dollars for presents for family; presents for friends, neighbors, work associates, even for people they don't really know that well, but will not give Him a present.
And it is His birthday we are celebrating!
An article entitled, The Forgotten Meaning of Christmas by Crown Financial Ministry, states:
This Christmas season 13 percent of Christians in America will give
at least one dollar to the homeless and 51 percent will give either
funds or their time to some nonprofit organization. Notwithstanding,
the typical Christian family in America will also spend $1,000 this
Christmas season on gifts and the family Christmas meal.
And we wonder why this generation is so materialistic?
This Christmas, I challenge you to join our family in reversing this madness. Let's determine to make Him the center of His birthday celebration. Next, set a budget for the amount of money you are going to spend this year, and stick to your budget. Look at your budget and make sure you are going to give Him the biggest and best of all your presents.
Then, you can teach your children those valuable character traits of generosity, compassion, and service. Find another family that is poor or needy; it may be a military family, a widow, an unemployed or disabled. Minister to that family with food, works of service, and your friendship.
Communicate to your children and to your loved ones that you are going to be doing some things different, because you have decided to make Him the focus of His birthday celebration. It's not about how much stuff we can accumulate; it is about Him, and helping others, and giving in a way that honors Him.
This year's birthday party, make sure He gets your biggest and best gift. After all, it is His birthday we are celebrating.
And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: Matthew 2:11
Finally, they all gathered around and sang Happy Birthday, ate his birthday cake, hugged each other, and left. It was all about his birthday, yet no one gave him a gift.
Can you imagine such a scene as this? Yet, millions of people will spend millions of dollars on parades, parties, pageants, and possessions, but few spend anything for Him. Even those in His family will spend millions of dollars for presents for family; presents for friends, neighbors, work associates, even for people they don't really know that well, but will not give Him a present.
And it is His birthday we are celebrating!
An article entitled, The Forgotten Meaning of Christmas by Crown Financial Ministry, states:
This Christmas season 13 percent of Christians in America will give
at least one dollar to the homeless and 51 percent will give either
funds or their time to some nonprofit organization. Notwithstanding,
the typical Christian family in America will also spend $1,000 this
Christmas season on gifts and the family Christmas meal.
And we wonder why this generation is so materialistic?
This Christmas, I challenge you to join our family in reversing this madness. Let's determine to make Him the center of His birthday celebration. Next, set a budget for the amount of money you are going to spend this year, and stick to your budget. Look at your budget and make sure you are going to give Him the biggest and best of all your presents.
Then, you can teach your children those valuable character traits of generosity, compassion, and service. Find another family that is poor or needy; it may be a military family, a widow, an unemployed or disabled. Minister to that family with food, works of service, and your friendship.
Communicate to your children and to your loved ones that you are going to be doing some things different, because you have decided to make Him the focus of His birthday celebration. It's not about how much stuff we can accumulate; it is about Him, and helping others, and giving in a way that honors Him.
This year's birthday party, make sure He gets your biggest and best gift. After all, it is His birthday we are celebrating.
And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: Matthew 2:11
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