2017 Worship Guide

2017 WORSHIP GUIDE Wednesday, December 6, 2017 LINCOLN DAILY NEWS PUBLICATION Page 13 heritage for such a motley assortment of characters. He does that, you know? Make room. We’re not so good at making room, but God specializes in it. We couldn’t even manage to clear little more than a borrowed corner of a crowded little stable for His Son to be born. But whenever I see a nativity display and the little structure that shelters the Holy family, I’m amazed at how big God has made it. Think about it: There was room for Joseph and Mary and the human family – warts and all – they represented. There was plenty of room for lowly and despised shepherds to be the first to lay eyes on the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world. There was even room for the mysterious astrologers who followed the sign in the nighttime sky that brought them to worship the Savior of the whole human race. From a weirdly wonderful point of view God made that little stable big enough for all mankind to come and adore Jesus. In fact, the stable reminds me of the British science fiction sensation, ‘Doctor Who.’ The doctor is a time-traveler that drifts through the universe in a strange little time machine called the TARDIS. On the outside, it looks like an ordinary phone booth like structure, but everyone who goes through the door of the TARDIS stares in amazement and exclaims, “It’s much bigger on the inside!” It looks like it would do well to hold one or two people (or maybe 10 or 12 college kids), but in reality there is infinite room inside. The scene of the nativity may look small, but it’s much bigger on the inside. God has ensured that there is plenty of room for anyone and everyone to come to His Son. And when anyone comes to His Son in genuine faith it’s a safe bet they will never be the same again. Our loving God has made room for us – I pray we make room for ‘the Christ of the manger’ in our lives. The old carol says it so well, Joy to the world! The Lord is come! Let earth receive her King! Let every heart prepare Him room! And heaven and nature sing, And heaven and nature sing, And heaven and heaven and nature sing! Hope Chapel Church of the Nazarene Pastor Greg Wooten