What’s In Christmas For You?

This morning, a young man stopped by to check on a project he has been helping my husband complete.  As he was leaving, I asked him if he was ready for Christmas.  It was a casual question.  But his answer caught me off guard.

“Naah.  I don’t like Christmas.  Don’t have any kids to buy for.  There’s nothing in it for me.”

I’m sure my face reflected my shock.  But he didn’t see it, because he was already out the door.

The pastor’s sermon came instantly to mind.  It could have been titled, “What’s In Christmas For You.”

After Adam and Eve sinned, God issued several devastating curses.  Yet, in the midst of that dark moment, God gave them hope for the future.  Hope in a promise he fulfilled with Jesus.

The central message of Christmas is that God’s promises are trustworthy, and that we can have confidence in Him.

A Jesus centered life results in hope because of the promises of God.  The pastor asked us, “Are you in a season of hopelessness, or hope?”

Obviously, claiming God’s promise of salvation through Christ is the first step to living in hope.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9

But there are other promises too.

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:6

For it is God who works in you to will and act according to his good purpose.

Philippians 2:13

These are some of my favorite promises.  I’m so glad God’s not finished with me yet.

I leaned out the door and called after our young friend, “You know there’s MORE to Christmas than THAT.”

He smiled, waved, and kept on walking down the side walk.  He never even turned around.

He does, doesn’t he?  Know, that is?  If not, will I get another chance to share just how MUCH is in Christmas for him?  Will my husband?  Will this young man have another chance to hear?

Heavy thoughts.

Is it just me?  Or do we need to slow way down?  Adjust our focus.  Stop hurrying past the people who need to hear about the hope we take for granted.

Lord thank you for the reminder today.  Thank you for continuing to work in me.  Help me not to miss another chance to share our hope.  And, may our young friend find You in his Christmas this year.