I spent much time on the internet during the last few weeks reading what people thoughts Christmas means to them. There is concern among many Christians that Christmas is slowly being taken over by the world to become simply as a holiday, a time to do shopping or a time of eating and drinking.
I am sure many of you have spent much money for this celebration. But have you ever wondered what Christmas really feels to those who don’t have money to buy anything? What does Christmas means to a widowed mother or a jobless man, who is trying to ends meet; or for someone who has just lost their loved ones? I sometimes wonder what Christmas means to my father who is getting deaf and forgetful, and my mother who is fighting the leukemia, which is attacking her frail body. What does Christmas mean to those who have to work offshore or in remote jungles or serving thousands of miles away from families?
We know Christmas means different things to different people. To supermarkets and department stores, it is the busiest time of the year. It means more profit. For some employees it means bonus, so that they can buy extra things that they want.
If you are young, Christmas is a time of fun and parties. For children it is time to receive presents. These are happenings during Christmas but they don’t make Christmas. You cannot celebrate it without remembering Jesus. This is His birthday, and if Jesus is not in your life, this celebration doesn’t mean anything.
That is what Is that happening to some of us. We can go through all the decorating, and buying presents, and preparing nice meals, but somehow forget that it is Jesus’ birthday celebration. Christmas is not our birthday, even if your birthday falls on 25th December. It is Jesus’ birthday. So if nobody gives you any present this Christmas, don’t be dismayed because it is Jesus’ birthday. So let us go back to our Gospel reading for tonight (Luke 2:1-14) and see what it teaches about Christmas.
First, when Jesus was born we discover that God chose to announce it to the shepherds first of all. In those days shepherds were at the bottom end of the social strata. They were uneducated, so they could not get good jobs: they could only work as shepherds. If you were shepherds in those days you wouldn’t get any respect from people. And yet God’s angel came to them and said, "Unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior who is Christ, the Lord."
What do we learn from that one simple announcement? First, it tells us that God is saying to us: "No matter how unimportant you may think you are, God knows you, and you are important to Him." Often times we see Christmas as an occasion where important people get special treatment. In Sarawak I know some government VIPs get reserved seats in churches when they attend Christmas services. In this church no one get special seats. I get to seat at the same place every Sunday, whether it is special day or not.
I want to tell you tonight that God honors and use people and things that the world often overlooks or ignores. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1: 26-28 saying, "Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things..."
We know the story of Joseph. He was sold into slavery by his brothers when he was a young boy. But God used him to deliver special message to Pharaoh in Egypt and eventually helped his own people to escape starvation.
When he wanted a king to replace Saul, he chose David who was a shepherd boy. He called Jeremiah, who was probably a teenager to become a prophet. He appointed Mary, a village girl to be a mother for his Son. Our gospel reading also tells us that when the Christ comes, he was born in a stable, wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger; and the angels only told the shepherds about it. What is God telling us here? He is telling us that if he cares about the shepherds, he also cares about us!
We need to hear and spread that message as we celebrate Christmas this time. There are many people out there who are lost, lonely and feeling useless and empty. They need to hear the message that God cares for them. Those who have lost their love ones need to hear that. All of us, who have experienced rejection or being left out, need to hear that message. God is speaking to us tonight, saying: “You’re wrong to think that you don’t matter. Shepherds matter to me; so are you. And unto you a Savior is born."
The second thing this passage teaches us is that life matters. Your life is not only important for you: your life counts with God. I imagine those shepherds must have sat around the campfire many times and wondered if life was really worthwhile or not. "What difference does it make if we watch the sheep or not?"
You may sometime feel whether it does make any difference if you wake up every morning or not because life seems like an endless cycle of things that really don’t mean anything. If you ever think like that, God is saying to you tonight just as he announced to the shepherds that your life is worthwhile, and it matters to God; all because it is his gift to you. Furthermore, it is a life given to make some impacts in the world we live.
When Jesus was born more than 2000 years ago, people in Bethlehem didn’t think very much of him, except that he was born in a stable. To them nothing exciting happened that night, but we now know that baby who was born eventually changed the world. As you look around at the little boys or girls in church tonight, could they too be among those who will impact the community and country 20 or 30 years from now. We don’t know.
Now if my life and your life matters to God, other peoples’ lives also matter to him. Sometimes we look down on people because they are not highly educated, or good looking, or having important jobs. Sometimes we hurt other people by what we do or say. God is reminding us tonight that we are wrong to do that and we need to make amend. That is why this Christmas reminds us that all lives matter to God, and that we should do our best to care and love – including those who have nothing. Just now I mentioned that we are to give gifts to the one who is celebrating the birthday. How do we give something to Jesus? First, we give ourselves to him. Second, in the parable of the sheep and the goats (Matt. 25: 31-46) Jesus speaks about himself as those in prison, strangers, naked, and sick. Christmas is a good time when we do something good and useful for the poor and needy.
Finally, just as life matters, your faith also matters. Shepherds were men of faith and they believed in a Messiah. They even had more reason to believe in a Messiah because things were especially hard for them: they were nobodies as far as the community is concerned. In the history of Israel, it was often the nobodies and those who suffer poverty and exile who prayed hard for God’s promise that one day the Messiah would come to their rescue. But many had stopped praying and believing, because God was not responding quick enough. So when the angels announced to the shepherds that Christ was born, it must be the greatest news that the shepherds ever received.
How about us? Sometimes we get tired of believing in God who seems to be doing nothing. There may be times when we wonder if it is worthwhile going to church on Sundays. Even as you sit here listening to me, you may still wonder whether all this worthwhile. You may be at the point of losing your faith because nothing particularly spiritual or godly has ever happened in your life. But you still come to church on occasion like this because you are not really sure. You fear that if you don’t come, you may miss something really important.
Tonight, God is reminding us that he is true and faithful and our faith in him is important. He may be slow to answer our prayers or he seems to be doing nothing at all. But for those who serve and wait in faith, they don’t wait in vain, because one day Jesus will come to dry our tears, and take away our pain, and bring his rewards. This is the message.
I am sure many of you have spent much money for this celebration. But have you ever wondered what Christmas really feels to those who don’t have money to buy anything? What does Christmas means to a widowed mother or a jobless man, who is trying to ends meet; or for someone who has just lost their loved ones? I sometimes wonder what Christmas means to my father who is getting deaf and forgetful, and my mother who is fighting the leukemia, which is attacking her frail body. What does Christmas mean to those who have to work offshore or in remote jungles or serving thousands of miles away from families?
We know Christmas means different things to different people. To supermarkets and department stores, it is the busiest time of the year. It means more profit. For some employees it means bonus, so that they can buy extra things that they want.
If you are young, Christmas is a time of fun and parties. For children it is time to receive presents. These are happenings during Christmas but they don’t make Christmas. You cannot celebrate it without remembering Jesus. This is His birthday, and if Jesus is not in your life, this celebration doesn’t mean anything.
That is what Is that happening to some of us. We can go through all the decorating, and buying presents, and preparing nice meals, but somehow forget that it is Jesus’ birthday celebration. Christmas is not our birthday, even if your birthday falls on 25th December. It is Jesus’ birthday. So if nobody gives you any present this Christmas, don’t be dismayed because it is Jesus’ birthday. So let us go back to our Gospel reading for tonight (Luke 2:1-14) and see what it teaches about Christmas.
First, when Jesus was born we discover that God chose to announce it to the shepherds first of all. In those days shepherds were at the bottom end of the social strata. They were uneducated, so they could not get good jobs: they could only work as shepherds. If you were shepherds in those days you wouldn’t get any respect from people. And yet God’s angel came to them and said, "Unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior who is Christ, the Lord."
What do we learn from that one simple announcement? First, it tells us that God is saying to us: "No matter how unimportant you may think you are, God knows you, and you are important to Him." Often times we see Christmas as an occasion where important people get special treatment. In Sarawak I know some government VIPs get reserved seats in churches when they attend Christmas services. In this church no one get special seats. I get to seat at the same place every Sunday, whether it is special day or not.
I want to tell you tonight that God honors and use people and things that the world often overlooks or ignores. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1: 26-28 saying, "Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things..."
We know the story of Joseph. He was sold into slavery by his brothers when he was a young boy. But God used him to deliver special message to Pharaoh in Egypt and eventually helped his own people to escape starvation.
When he wanted a king to replace Saul, he chose David who was a shepherd boy. He called Jeremiah, who was probably a teenager to become a prophet. He appointed Mary, a village girl to be a mother for his Son. Our gospel reading also tells us that when the Christ comes, he was born in a stable, wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger; and the angels only told the shepherds about it. What is God telling us here? He is telling us that if he cares about the shepherds, he also cares about us!
We need to hear and spread that message as we celebrate Christmas this time. There are many people out there who are lost, lonely and feeling useless and empty. They need to hear the message that God cares for them. Those who have lost their love ones need to hear that. All of us, who have experienced rejection or being left out, need to hear that message. God is speaking to us tonight, saying: “You’re wrong to think that you don’t matter. Shepherds matter to me; so are you. And unto you a Savior is born."
The second thing this passage teaches us is that life matters. Your life is not only important for you: your life counts with God. I imagine those shepherds must have sat around the campfire many times and wondered if life was really worthwhile or not. "What difference does it make if we watch the sheep or not?"
You may sometime feel whether it does make any difference if you wake up every morning or not because life seems like an endless cycle of things that really don’t mean anything. If you ever think like that, God is saying to you tonight just as he announced to the shepherds that your life is worthwhile, and it matters to God; all because it is his gift to you. Furthermore, it is a life given to make some impacts in the world we live.
When Jesus was born more than 2000 years ago, people in Bethlehem didn’t think very much of him, except that he was born in a stable. To them nothing exciting happened that night, but we now know that baby who was born eventually changed the world. As you look around at the little boys or girls in church tonight, could they too be among those who will impact the community and country 20 or 30 years from now. We don’t know.
Now if my life and your life matters to God, other peoples’ lives also matter to him. Sometimes we look down on people because they are not highly educated, or good looking, or having important jobs. Sometimes we hurt other people by what we do or say. God is reminding us tonight that we are wrong to do that and we need to make amend. That is why this Christmas reminds us that all lives matter to God, and that we should do our best to care and love – including those who have nothing. Just now I mentioned that we are to give gifts to the one who is celebrating the birthday. How do we give something to Jesus? First, we give ourselves to him. Second, in the parable of the sheep and the goats (Matt. 25: 31-46) Jesus speaks about himself as those in prison, strangers, naked, and sick. Christmas is a good time when we do something good and useful for the poor and needy.
Finally, just as life matters, your faith also matters. Shepherds were men of faith and they believed in a Messiah. They even had more reason to believe in a Messiah because things were especially hard for them: they were nobodies as far as the community is concerned. In the history of Israel, it was often the nobodies and those who suffer poverty and exile who prayed hard for God’s promise that one day the Messiah would come to their rescue. But many had stopped praying and believing, because God was not responding quick enough. So when the angels announced to the shepherds that Christ was born, it must be the greatest news that the shepherds ever received.
How about us? Sometimes we get tired of believing in God who seems to be doing nothing. There may be times when we wonder if it is worthwhile going to church on Sundays. Even as you sit here listening to me, you may still wonder whether all this worthwhile. You may be at the point of losing your faith because nothing particularly spiritual or godly has ever happened in your life. But you still come to church on occasion like this because you are not really sure. You fear that if you don’t come, you may miss something really important.
Tonight, God is reminding us that he is true and faithful and our faith in him is important. He may be slow to answer our prayers or he seems to be doing nothing at all. But for those who serve and wait in faith, they don’t wait in vain, because one day Jesus will come to dry our tears, and take away our pain, and bring his rewards. This is the message.
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