2021 Christmas Worship Guide

A heavenly gift
By Pastor Greg Wooten
Hope Chapel of the Nazarene

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[December 17, 2021]   “It’s Christmas, for Heaven’s Sake!”
My wife and I were snuggled up on the couch watching one of those wonderful, sappy, and predictably predictable holiday season movies when I heard that line. It was spoken in order to snap a grinchy character out of his sagging, less-than-enthusiastic yuletide attitude.

I really have no idea why it lodged in my mind the way it did. (Well, other than the fact that I’ve been preaching long enough to have my radar always ‘on’ for a good theological “hook”!)

Anyway, I’ve been mulling those words over ever since. “It’s Christmas for Heaven’s sake.” Really? Are you sure about that?

What benefit could Heaven, the eternal abode of God Almighty, possibly expect to reap from the King of King’s plan to rescue the likes of us? Hopelessly lost. Heedlessly rebellious. Helplessly dead.

Going to all the trouble to incarnate the eternal Son of God to live as a man, love as a leader and die as a savior seems terribly inequitable to me. Heaven doesn’t really get more than it gives up, does it?


So, with the help of a good friend, I’ve tried to re-imagine the line with some other colloquial “sakes” that seem more appropriate. For instance, they could have said, “It’s Christmas for Pete’s sake.” That makes sense, right? It’s really the Petes and Pablos and Sallys and Suzettes that are getting the better end of the stick, right?

Undeserving human beings are given an open-door invitation to never-ending peace? Yes, please!
 


Or how about, “It’s Christmas for pity’s sake”? After all, when you’ve got nothing, which is exactly what we have to contribute spiritually, pity isn’t such a bad thing.

God’s pity, born out of His never-failing love, extreme mercy, and amazing grace, swooped down into time and space to snatch us from certain Hell? Sign me up!

Maybe even, “It’s Christmas for goodness’ sake” would be a good alternative. Again, think about it – we do have a serious “goodness” problem. Don’t we have to caution our children every year with melodic warnings about being “good for goodness’ sake” because they tend not to be good? Funny how being “bad” (self-centered, stubborn, sinful) isn’t something we have to learn. It comes all too naturally.

But doesn’t the incarnation, God being made like us, contain a promise of something new – that by faith in Jesus and cooperation with the Holy Spirit, bad people can be made good? There’s a gift we could all use!

See now what I mean? We are getting all kinds of Christmas presents, but what is Heaven getting in return? I really only see one upside to God’s salvation plan where Heaven is concerned – JOY!

The night Jesus was born there must have been quite a party in Heaven. Imagine the warriors of heaven laying down their arms to sing and dance and rejoice with wonder at the crazy thing God had successfully done by perfectly melding His essential Being with human flesh and blood.

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The revelry even spilled over to earth!

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:8-14 NIV)

The armies of heaven rejoiced that night! And ultimately, so did the Prince of Heaven Himself!

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV)

According to the Bible, there is only one other thing on earth that makes the citizens of heaven rejoice – when one of us lost, twisted, good-as-dead sinners turns, in faith, to Him. (Luke 15:10)

Why not give Heaven something to celebrate? The gift of YOU is all He wants for Christmas!

 

Read all the articles in our new
2021 Christmas Worship Guide

Title
CLICK ON TITLES TO GO TO PAGES
Page
When Doubt Encounters Christmas 4
Jesus:  The Light of God 7
A child is born:  the shepherds go 10
A heavenly gift 13
Longing to be filled 16
Christmas:  God's invitation to you 18
Holiday Worship Schedule 21

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