“The Day God Reach Out to Us”

The New International Version Chapter 2

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.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

Introduction: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and His Son Jesus Christ our Savior and LORD!

A rather grumpy husband and wife were having their annual Christmas Eve argument. Each year it was the same argument; she wanted him to go with her and the children to church while he just wanted to stay home and relax. She believed that a family should go to church on Christmas Eve. She enjoyed getting all the family dressed up, pile in the car and drive out to the church to hear a message about Christ's birth.

It had been like this for years. Neither rain, sleet, hot weather or cold weather would deter her ambitions. Even the occasional snow would not dampen her resolve. She was determined to have her family each year be at church either on Christmas eve or Christmas day. It had become one of her family traditions. As he got ready for the service the man starting thinking about everything that he would experience that evening. It got him to thinking all kinds of questions. Why do they have to sing the same songs each year? Year after year it is the same ones; Silent Night, Away in the Manger and Joy to the World. You would think that they could at least change it up every other year. Don't they know that this was one of his only services of the year? Couldn't they realize that and sing something new? Oh, well he thought, I shouldn't complain. It's not like I really support the place and I guess they can't go all out for a guy that is going to be at best there only a couple times a year. Now. let's see, I wonder if I put up such a fuss maybe I can still get out of it. At worst maybe I can just go in a pair of sweats and an old T-shirt. I mean after all, I am missing out on some great TV and snacks.

Hopefully, today that was not what happened in your home. Hopefully, you are here with your loved ones ready to celebrate and worship Jesus Christ our Savior and LORD. Hopefully, you are ready to join millions of people who will be sitting in pews, benches and chairs all over the world to rejoice in the birth of Jesus Christ the Savior of the world.

Today, I would like to invite you to join in a time of relishing the mystery and joy as we celebrate the story of Jesus' birth. I would like for you to join in a time of rejoicing in the story of salvation. A story that started all the way back in the Garden of Eden.

I. Christmas shares with us the Reality of the Incarnation - God's Love Come Down

We all know Jesus is God's only Son. His conception and his birth were of course not normal. Jesus is Heaven's Child; conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary. His birth and mission were foretold by prophets hundreds of years before his birth.

HERE IS GOD COMIMG IN HIS ETERNALNESS

HERE IS GOD IN ALL HIS GLORY, POWER AND MAJESTY

HERE IS THE GREAT I AM

THIS IS ALPHA AND OMEGA

THIS IS EL-SHADDA, ELOHIM AND YAHWEH

GOD IS HERE WITH US

The Incarnation is both a mystery and a majesty. It is way beyond our ability to full comprehend. God coming down and becoming a single cell organism. God growing in the womb of Mary over a 40 week period of time until he was born that Christmas Eve. The Christmas story reveals our eternal God stepping into time. He is all- powerful. He takes on flesh and bone. Here is the creator becoming a part of creation.

The Incarnation of Jesus was and is the greatest event in all of human and divine history. It is all very theological and intellectually mind boggling stuff. There are no words to adequately explain just how wonderful, how mysterious, how cosmically transforming the Incarnation is to our world and to heaven. Divine, yet human. God clothed in flesh. God - very tangible, very concrete and very vulnerable.

This Christmas, don't miss the mystery and wonder of the Incarnation. Don't miss the miracle of God coming down in love, mercy and grace. Don't miss the wonderful truth of when God took on a human body and nature and God and man. Revel in John 1:14: "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us."

II. Secondly, Christmas shares the Immense Reach of God's Love

Christmas is not only the story of God reaching down but also God reaching out. It is the season that best displays the everlasting truth of God's love - a love which has no bounds or boundaries. Christmas is the season of God's Love Reaching Out. It is the season of our God:

REACHING OUT ACROSS THE BOUNDARIES OF TIME AND SPACE

REACHING OUT FROM THE HOLINESS OF HEAVEN

REACHING OUT TO ALL OF LOST HUMANITY

Christmas reminds us how far our God reaches out for all of us. We, who the Bible states were enemies, were alienated but we were not abandoned. Instead, God reached out through His Son Jesus so that through His love we can experience reconciliation, redemption, renewal and restoration. We are called to a living hope through Jesus' resurrection. We are called to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading. We are called to be a chose people, a holy people and a people of God. Jesus Christ Himself comes to remind all of us that we are accepted, needed and wanted. Jesus is God's answer to every prodigal child that in Christ we find redemption. Jesus is God's demonstration of love telling all of us that we are welcomed, accepted and love.

Let's not forget today that Christmas is a story of God reaching out.

III. Thirdly, Christmas is the story of God receiving everyone who desires His forgiveness.

A glimpse around will show you that our world is a world dominated by separations. We are separated and compartmentalized by our gender, race, social class, economics, education, philosophical viewpoints and politics. We live in a world in which you can be ostracized by having too much or too little in the form of education, power or position. We even have bitterness and feuding in the place we designated as the “House of Prayer”. You are either blue or white collar, city or rural. What a sad indictment on those who say they’ve accepted the Lord. Races are intolerant of one another. Rich and poor do not want to share the same space. Males and females continually disagreeing and down grading one another. We seem to be at a time when intolerance and narrow mindedness rule the day. No one wants to feel isolated, segregated or separated. No one wants to find themselves on the outside looking in. Perhaps this message on this Christmas Eve will prick our hearts and minds and remind us. For God not only looks down, reaches out but He also accepts all those who call upon His name. He accepts all who come to Him in repentance for the forgiveness of their sins.

For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God!

For God so loved the whole world that He sent Jesus His One and Only Son!

For at the foot of the Cross all the ground is level. Their are no big I’s and little U’s.

Closure: Today as we celebrate and prepare for Christmas Day. Let us remember or Savior’s birth and:

Allow His love to reach down and touch our hearts and our lives!

Allow His love to reach across space and time to your heart and life!

Allow His love to receive you as His forgiven, baptized and Holy Spirit filled child? For He did come to save us all.

Merry Christmas to all of you and may your Christmas be filled with the glow of His love.