CHRISTMAS FUTURE

Introduction

Good morning again and thank you for joining us for our after Christmas service. I hope you had a great Christmas weekend.

I don’t know about you, but having church the day after Christmas almost feels a little bit odd. Like there was this big build up to Christmas, we had Christmas Eve service, we opened gifts, we ate too much, we enjoyed our families, and now here we sit recovering from the weekend.

In fact, what’s interesting about today is that around the country there are many churches not even having Sunday service today. And some that are only offering an online service with a prerecorded message.

And if I’m being honest with you, I find that a little odd as well, even though I understand it could be a low attendance Sunday due to the holiday weekend.

I guess for me it’s still Sunday, and in my mind the day the church gathers regardless of what happened on Saturday. But that’s just me.

All that to say, the Sunday after Christmas tends to be different than most Sundays as we put Christmas in the rear view mirror and prepare for the new year celebration.

And I think that’s where many Christians at times lose sight of what December 26th is all about.

I mean think about it. We were all geared up and excited for Christmas to come. So we put up the lights, we decorated the tree, we set up the nativity scene, we sang Christmas carols, we drank hot chocolate, we watched Christmas movies, we lit candles, we sang silent night, we opened presents, and then this morning came and we said, “Well, Christmas is over. Time to move on to the next Holiday.”

It’s almost as if we’re saying, “See you next year Jesus. Thanks for stopping by. In fact we're going to take today off. Only 364 days and we’ll make you the main focus again.”

Do you see what I’m saying?

But what if December 26th wasn’t just the day after Christmas? What if instead it was a continuation of Christmas?

And by a continuation I’m not talking about keeping your Christmas lights up until March like some of you do. I’m not talking about watching Christmas movies on the Hallmark channel in July. What I’m talking about is keeping the excitement, joy, and promise of Christmas going. To not see December 26th as Christmas past but Christmas future. A future that begins today. A future that doesn’t just lead us into a New Year but carries us through it. A future that keeps Christmas ongoing. A future that is leading us close and closer and closer to Jesus.

I don’t know about you, but I like the idea of Christmas continuing past December 25th.

So a great question would be, “What would that look like? I mean if Christmas continued today and into tomorrow, what would that mean for us?”

Well, thankfully we have an example of what that looks like in the Bible. A Biblical Christmas story that actually begins on December 26th, the day after Jesus was born. A story that has a Christmas future focus as a group of men carry Christmas past Christmas.

So, what’s this post Christmas story and who were these men?

Well, the Bible actually introduces us to them as part of the Christmas story. But what’s interesting is that while they’re mentioned in the Christmas story, they actually missed the first Christmas. They weren’t even there. Which is why Christmas continued past Christmas for them.

Now, at this point some of you might be thinking, “Pastor, what are you talking about? Are you sure we are talking about the same Christmas story? Because I don’t know of another Christmas story in the Bible than the one that took place on Christmas.”

Well, to clear up any confusion, let me introduce you to these men and their Christmas story. Because we find it in Matthew 2. Here’s how Matthew records it:

Matthew 2:1–2 ESV

1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Matthew says following the birth of Jesus, wise men from the east showed up looking for Jesus and claimed that a star had shown them the way.

Now you might be thinking, “Yeah pastor, I know that story. It’s the Christmas story. It’s about the wise men showing up on Christmas to see baby Jesus in the manger.”

Well, not quite. Because yes they showed up to see Jesus, but it wasn’t on Christmas Eve or morning. It was actually much later than that, more than likely 12-18 months after Jesus was born.

And so in order to tell you this story and connect some dots, I’m going to need you to do something for me this morning.

First, I need you to set aside what you think you know about the Wise men.

Forget the Christmas cards with them standing at the manger.

Forget the Christmas plays where they show up right after Jesus is born.

And forget a star over the manger the night Jesus is born.

For the next few moments I need you to set that all aside.

Second, I need you to take your religious blinders off.

And what I mean by that, is for the next few moments I’d like you to consider that maybe, just maybe, God works in some rather unique and supernatural ways in order to reach a lost and dying world.

That God has a way of displaying Christmas and reaching people that we would’t typically consider.

Can we all do that, at least for a few minutes. Ok? Great!

So, who are these guys and what’s going on? Well, based on what Matthew just told us, we know three things.

First, they show up after Jesus is born looking for him.

Second, they believe Jesus is a king.

Third, they say a star has revealed his birth and let them to Him.

So to get a feel for what is going on here, let’s ask a few questions

First Question – Who were these “Wise Men” and where did they come from?

Well, just to be clear, they aren’t from Chicago and one of them isn’t the Godfather.

So, who exactly are they? Well, for us to determine that we actually need a better translation for “Wise men”.

So, let’s look at the Greek. The actual Greek word here is “magos” which is the root word of our English word “magician.”

So, what does that mean? Does it mean these were guys that did magic tricks? Were they magicians that would have tried out for America’s Got Talent?

No. What it means is that these guys were seers who predicted omens and dreams. Men who were known as Wise men and in ancient times were the esteemed advisors of Persian Kings.

And what they were known for and valued for was their ability to read the stars and predict events by using astrology.

So, what does that tell us? It tells us that these “Wise Men” were what we would call astrologists.

Which means the Wise Men weren’t Christians on a pilgrimage to find baby Jesus, or long lost Jews looking for a Messiah.

These men were pagan astrologers who believed the stars hold our fate and reveal our futures.

Today we might even call them “fortune tellers”.

Now in saying that in no way am I advocating for astrology or horoscopes. The Bible is very clear that we should stay away from such nonsense. In Deuteronomy 18 God puts it like this:

Deuteronomy 18:10 ESV

10 There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer

God is very clear on this kind of stuff throughout scripture. He says, “Stay away from it.”

In addition to that, based on what I’m about to show you about this passage, in no way am I saying that I believe the stars can predict our future. Because they don’t and they can’t.

So I don't want anybody leaving here today saying, “Pastor Brad believes in astrology.” Because I don't.

However, with that said, we can’t escape the fact that the Bible says a group of astrologers have been included in the Christmas story, a Christmas story that intertwines with our Christmas story.

Now, you might say, “Ok pastor, this is getting weird. Because if astrology isn’t real, and the stars can’t predict future events, then how did these guys find Jesus?”

We’ll get to that in a second, but to answer that, we need to answer another question first.

The question being, “When exactly did these guys show up?”

Was it later that night? Was it sometime the next day? Maybe a week perhaps? Because the only thing Matthew tells us is that it was after Jesus was born.

Believe it or not, none of the above. The truth is they didn’t show up in Judah until about a year or so after Jesus had been born.

You might be thinking, “Pastor that’s not what the Christmas cards say. Pastor that’s not what I saw in the Christmas play. How can you say that?”

The truth is, there’s a lot of evidence that supports a much later visitation by the Wise Men, with one of the main evidences coming from the actions of a man named Herod.

Because Matthew says they came after Jesus was born in the days of Herod the king. So, if we want to figure out when they came, then we need to know how Herod ties in with it.

You may recall, Herod is the wicked king Rome had appointed to rule over the land of Judah and the nation of Israel. And he’s also the one in the Christmas story who tried to kill baby Jesus and in the process slaughtered an entire village of young boys.

And it all started when the Wise Men arrived asking Herod where the King of the Jews had been born. Which was the wrong person to ask, because Herod was a certified pchycopath who had a history of killing anybody that threatened his power. In fact history tells us that Herod killed some of his sons and wives because he thought they were conspiring against him.

But these Wise Men didn’t know that, and it made sense to go to a King when looking for a king. And so they asked Herod where the king of the Jews had been born. How did Herod take it? Here’s what Matthew tells us:

Matthew 2:3–8 ESV

3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: 6 “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ” 7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”

Matthew says Herod is troubled by their inquiry. And he’s troubled because he’s king and nobody else.

And so in order to find out what’s going on he begins to question the Wise Men. And in questioning them he realizes they are searching for the promised Messiah.

So, he calls for the religious scribes of Israel, and he asks them where the scriptures say the Messiah will be born. And they tell him in Bethlehem.

And so with that information in hand, Herod sends the Wise Men to Bethlehem and asks them to inform him when they find him. Why? Well, he says its so he can worship him. But we know that’s a lie. And we know that because when the Wise Men fail to return, Herod sends a squad of soldiers to Bethlehem and tells them to kill every male child 2 years and under. We read about it in Matthew 2:16

Matthew 2:16 ESV

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.

And it’s actually this terrible event that gives us the timeline for when the Wise Men arrived. A the timeline is found in Herod’s orders.

Here’s what I mean. “Have you ever wondered why Herod killed only male child under 2?”

Well, it’s right there in the scripture. Matthew says it’s because it was the time frame he had ascertained from the Wise Men.

Which means, the star the Wise Men saw wasn’t something they’d seen recently, but something they’d seen a year or two earlier. Which is why Herod settles on killing children two years old or younger. Because based on geography and travel time, it would have taken the Wise Men at least 12 months to get to Judah, and apparently they saw the star prior to starting their journey. And so in order to ensure this wanna be king is killed, Herod rounds up and says, “Kill any male child 2 or under”. Because thanks to the Wise Men, he has a time frame to work with. Everybody with me?

Now, you might be thinking, “Ok pastor, this is all very intersting, but where are you going with this and why is it important?”

Here’s where I’m going. Based on what history tells us, King Herod died in 4 B.C. Which means that Jesus was probably born somewhere between 6-8 B.C.

And that’s important because it gives us a time frame for when the Wise Men saw the star. It tell us that sometime between 6-8 B.C., somewhere in Persia, there were a group of pagan Astrologers studying the sky, and they saw something in the sky, in the stars, that told them a King had been born.

So what did they see in the sky that led them to believe a king had been born, a king important enough that they embarked on a 12-month journey to a foreign land in order to find him?

Well, many theologians believe they saw what scientists call a “conjunction of planets”.

So, what’s a conjunction of planets? It’s a once in a life time event that takes place when Jupiter and Saturn align in the night sky. An alignment which to the naked eye produces the appearance of an elongated star.

Now, you might be thinking, “Pastor, that’s cool. So, has this conjunction of planets ever taken place before?”

Yes it has. It happened in 1623 and 1226. How do we know? It’s called astronomy, which is the scientific study of the universe.

And what’s cool about astronomy, is using math and science, Astronomers can mathematically predict the movement of planets, comets, solar eclipses and the like.

And what’s really cool is using mathematical formulas, they can also look back in time and determine events from the past. Which is how they know about 1623 and 1226.

So, why would that be of any interest to us? It’s of interest because if we knew what the night sky looked like at the time of Jesus’s birth, then maybe we would be able to determine what the wise men saw in the sky.

And guess what, scientists have reproduced those charts, and here’s what they’ve discovered.

On April 17th, 6 B.C. a conjunction of planets took place as Jupiter and Saturn had the appearance of coming within close proximity of one another in the night sky, with Jupiter being the brightest of the two planets producing what looked like an elongated star.

And so more than likely this is what the wise men saw.

The question then is, “How did this conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn then lead the Wise Men to Jesus?”

Well, what we have to remember is that the Wise Men weren’t Astronomers, but astrologers. Which means, when they witnessed this event, they didn’t see it as so much as an astronomical event as thy did a astrological. In other words, they believed the universe was trying to communicate something to them.

So, what was it telling them? Well, to explain it thoroughly I would need to give you a bunch of astrology mumbo jumbo, so in order to spare you I’m going to give you the nutshell version of what a trained astrologer of that day might have seen.

Because along with the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn on that day, the Sun was located in the astrological position known as Aries.

In addition to that, on that day, Astronomically, Jupiter presented itself as a morning star. Meaning, Jupiter peaked the horizon before the sun did.

Now by themselves and to the average person this means nothing. But when combined and viewed by the trained astrologer of Jesus’s day, this is a big deal, and here’s why.

First, in the pagan beliefs of Astrology of that day, Aires represented the region of Judea.

Second, in astrology, the conjunction of two planets, specifically Jupiter, represented what is called a “regal” or “royal” birth.

Third, the rising of Jupiter ahead of the sun as a morning star meant the “regal” birth was of an immortal nature with this king having the power over life and death.

So here’s how many astrological experts believe the Wise Men could have translated this, “A Judean King has been born, who is immortal, and who has the power over life and death.”

Could it be that this is what caused a group of pagan astrologers to get excited? Excited enough to get on their camels, and make a 12 month trek to a distant land? I think it’s possible.

So what’s this saying to us?

Is this suggesting Jesus was born on April 17th, 6 B.C.?

Is this suggesting that astrology has legitimacy?

No, I don’t think it’s saying any of that.

So what is this saying and why does Matthew make mention of these astrologers?

Here’s what I’d like to suggest to you:

First, I think it’s saying that God can reveal and display Christmas to who He wants and in whatever way He wants. In other words, God doesn’t limit himself on how He reaches people. And I think we need to settle that in our minds.

Second, I think it’s saying that God reveals Himself to people in a way they can understand and comprehend, even if it means revealing Himself through their false beliefs or thinking.

Think of it like this, if you’re a Christian today, you’re a Christian because in some way at some point God infiltrated your world and revealed His son to you, and He revealed Jesus to you in a way you would recognize, understand, and accept.

I think that’s the mistake many Christians and churches make today in their desire to lead people to Jesus. We want to lead people to Jesus on our terms and with our methods. The problem with that though is a really lost person isn’t typically open to our methods. As a result, sometimes we have to meet them in a way they can understand.

The Apostle Paul did this frequently. We saw this in our Acts study as Paul was in Athens. Remember, he had a conversation about Jesus with a group of philosophers.

Do you remember how he approached the conversation? He approached it by quoting some of their own philosophical writings. Which means, using their own philosophical writings, Paul revealed Jesus to them.

You see the key to reaching some people for Jesus is to use their own worldview to show them Jesus. And that doesn’t mean we agree with their worldview, it just means we are using their way of thinking to lead them to a savior who desires to have a relationship with them.

Third, this shows us that nobody is beyond God’s reach.

Let me ask you something, “Have you ever met someone that is just totally spiritually lost. I mean they are out there. Their belief system, their view about God and life are just out of wack.” Do you know somebody like that?

I think we probably all do. Now let’s just be honest, when we meet somebody like that, sometimes we think, “I’m not sure that person could ever be reached for Jesus.”

You know what this story of the “Wise Men” shows us. It shows us God can reach anybody.

Even a group of Pagan astrologers from Persia, who thought the stars predicted the future, who used horoscopes to direct their lives, but despite that, it didn’t stop God from revealing His Son to them. What that means is, nobody is beyond God’s ability to reach them. Nobody is so lost that they can’t find Jesus.

And that’s good news for us this morning. Because all of us have friends and relatives that don’t know Jesus.

And for them right now, Christmas is over. It’s December 26th.

For them Christmas really had no spiritual bearing on their life.

And let’s just be honest, that’s heart breaking isn’t it? That Christmas could come and go with no lasting affect on the people we care most about.

Here’s what I want you to hold on to this morning. If God can lead a group of pagan astrologers to His Son, he can lead your friends, your relatives, and the people you care most about to Jesus. They aren’t beyond His reach.

Finally, what this shows us is that God uses signs to direct people to Jesus.

In the days of Jesus, He used a conjunction of planets that converged to produce a bright light. A Christmas star. And I believe God still uses signs like that today.

What signs? Jesus puts it like this in Matthew 5:

Matthew 5:14–16 ESV

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Jesus says we are the sign. We are the light that shines before others. The light that directs people to Jesus. We are the sign.

Which means you and I are the ongoing presence of Christmas. You and I are the ones who keep Christmas going beyond Christmas. We are the ones that God puts on display. We are the ones who continue to shine the presence of Jesus in a dark and hopeless world.

Which means the only way they see the light is if Christmas is living in us. If our lives represent a relationship with Jesus. If our lives shine with the hope, joy, and life change that Jesus truly offers.

Which means, if we want the hope and joy that Christmas offers to continue beyond December 25th, it starts with us. It starts with us living with a Christmas future mentality.

The question the is, how do we do that?

Based on the story of the Wise Men, I’d like to offer you three closing suggestions this morning on how you can take Christmas beyond today.

Suggestion #1 - We have to keep seeking for Jesus.

This is a lesson we learn from the Wise Men who continued to look for Christmas even though Christmas was already over.

And I think this is one of the challenges that many Christians face , Because for the last month we’ve been focused on Jesus more than anytime of the year. Because after all, He’s the reason for the season.

But now that Christmas is over, and well, it’s time to get back to normal. Time to take the lights down. Time to put the tree away. Time to pack everything back up. Hey, let’s even take Sunday off from church.

And I get that. The decorations need to come down. That’s a word for some of you this morning.

Sometimes people need a break. That’s understandable.

But that doesn’t mean Christmas has to end. That doesn’t mean we should stop making Jesus the focus. That doesn’t mean we should stop seeking Him.

Because I’m of the opinion that we are living in a day where we need to seek Jesus more than ever. That we need to go out of our way to find Him.

So, how do you do that?

For one, don’t just make Jesus the reason for the season, make Him THE REASON.

And what I mean by that is that you don’t let your fervor for Jesus end with the holiday season.

For example, some people only seek Jesus during certain times of the year. A time like Christmas. We call people like that Chreasters. People who only show up on Christmas and Easter. For them Jesus is a seasonal savior. And please know, if you’re a Chreaster, we are glad you are here. But my prayer is that Jesus could become more to you than just a seasonal event.

For others, they only seek Jesus during what you might call seasons of crisis.

Seasons of financial crisis. Seasons of a marital crisis. Seasons of health crisis. Seasons where life throws them a curve ball.

I remember many years when I was pastoring in another community, there was a family who fit the Chreaster profile. But then one day the wife found a lump. And it wasn’t long before they were in church every Sunday as they faced the crisis of cancer.

But what was so sad to watch is once the crisis was over. Once the cancer was removed. Once the doctor gave a clean bill of health. Back to being Chreasters they went.

And you know what, sometimes God allows crisis in our life to get our attention. Sometimes it’s the only thing that’s going to get our attention. But then the crisis ends and it’s back to Jesus just being a seasonal savior.

And then there are some who only seek Jesus in seasons of convenience. In other words, they only seek Jesus when it’s convenient. When there’s nothing more important on the calendar. When wrestling season is over. When ball travel has ended. When there’s nothing better to do on the weekend than go to church. Again for them, Jesus is just a seasonal savior.

But the fact is, Jesus wants to be so much more than that in our lives. He wants to be more than a seasonal savior. He wants to be your sole reason as you seek and grow in a day by day relationship with Him. And the only way that happens if you are continually seeking him.

Can I challenge you this morning to not just make Jesus the reason for the season, but the REASON. The Reason you get up everyday. The reason you make the decisions you make. The reason you live for.

Second, along with seeking Jesus, can I challenge you to seek Him first.

Jesus puts it like this:

Matthew 6:33 ESV

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

In this passage Jesus says, it you want your needs to be met, start by seeking God’s will first.

And what I mean by that, is as we go about our day, that we make Jesus first.

The first conversation we have. The first counsel we seek.

I mean can you imagine how much different your day might be if you went to Jesus first. If we prayed before we made the decision. Prayed before we had the conversation. Prayed before we took the action.

That could be life changing as you not only keep seeking Jesus, but you seek Him first.

This now leads us to a second suggestion for keeping Christmas going:

Suggestion #2 - We have to keep following Jesus.

Again, we learn this from the Wise Men as they follow the signs that God had given them to follow. Signs that would lead them to Christmas.

And the same is true for us. Not that we would follow astrological signs, but that we would follow Jesus on a day to day basis. Follow Him as we follow the path He has laid out for us. Signs to to speak.

Signs that come as we spend time in His Word.

Signs that come as we spend time in prayer.

Signs that come as God confirms His direction in our lives through the affirmation of others.

Signs that point us to the people He’s calling us to reach.

The writer of Proverbs puts it like this:

Proverbs 16:9 ESV

9 The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

And the Psalmist agrees when he writes:

Psalm 37:23 ESV

23 The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way;

The point is, if you want to keep Christmas going, you have to keep following the path that Jesus has laid out for you to follow.

The question then is, “How do you follow the signs?”

Well, it starts with seeking Him first like we just talked about. But to follow the signs means you have to be looking for the signs and then be willing to follow them.

Several years ago I watched a movie called “Yes Man” with Jim Carrey. In the movie, Jim Carries character, Carl, never seems to get anywhere in life, mostly because out of fear of the unknown or taking a risk, he always says no to opportunity. But then after listening to a motivational speaker carl begins to say yes to every opportunity which leads to a radical change in his life.

Now, by mentioning that movie I’m not saying you should say yes to every opportunity you encounter. What I’m suggesting though is when it comes to following God’s path, you need to have your spiritual eyes open and be willing to say yes to the direction He sends you in.

For example, maybe God lays somebody on your heart during your prayer time, so instead of passing it off, you send them a text of encouragement or your give them a call.

Or maybe you heard about a family going through a tough time, and you happen to see them in Walmart, and a voice inside says, “Pay for their groceries”. And so you walk up and had your card to the cashier.

My point is, if our spiritual eyes are open, God will show you where He wants you to go. I love how the Apostle Paul puts it in Ephesians 1:

Ephesians 1:16–18 ESV

16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

Paul’s prayer is that our spiritual eyes would be opened to spiritual wisdom and revelation, that then leads us into what God has called us to.

Let me give you a personal example of what I’m talking about.

Back in July I was supposed to go to with a couple of friends to a ministry conference in NC. I had my plane tickets booked and hotel room reserved. But the night before I was supposed to leave, I started getting an uneasiness about going on the trip. At first I thought it was just because I was tired. So I told myself, once you get there you’ll be glad you’re there. Buck up buttercup.

But through the course of the evening I couldn’t shake it. Something inside of me was saying, “Don’t go”. And to top it off, Denise encouraged me to listen to the feeling. Which was confirmation for me.

So, I followed the feeling. I contacted my friends, let them know I wasn’t going, and stayed home. And I’m so glad I did.

Because it was later in the week that our foster son came into our life. And I can tell you right now, if I had been in NC that week, our foster son wouldn’t be with us today. I’m so glad I was listening.

Here’s what we can never forget, “The steps of a man are ordered by the Lord when he delights in His way.”

But to go His way, we have to follow the signs He gives us to follow. Signs that sometimes don’t make sense. Signs that take us in directions we typically wouldn’t go. But signs that lead us to His will and His direction. Signs that keep Christmas alive not only in our lives but the lives of others.

Suggestion #3 - We have to make worship a priority.

When we read the Christmas story, one of the things we learn is that the Wise Men carried gifts with them. Gifts that they would give to Jesus as an act of worship.

Matthew puts it like this:

Matthew 2:11 ESV

11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

These men came prepared to worship Jesus. And what that tells us is that part of keeping Christmas alive is to always be prepared to worship.

So, how do we do that?

I starts by being willing to give God your time.

I mean think about it. The Wise Men gave up over two years of their life in order to travel to Bethlehem, find Jesus, and then travel back home. This was an act of worship. An act that required sacrifice.

And we must be willing to do the same with our time.

So, what does that look like? Well, it comes in all kinds of forms.

For one, it’s the time you give to God in your personal devotion as you seek Him first.

It’s also the time you give to God on the weekend as you come to church, not only to be ministered to, but to minister to others. As you serve on a ministry team. As you look for opportunity to strengthen and encourage others. As you operate as a minister of the gospel.

It could also be the time you give to God during the week in order to be a minister of the gospel. As you look for those signs and opportunities to be used by God. Because that takes time. I love how the apostle Paul puts it:

Colossians 4:5–6 ESV

5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Paul says that we are to make the best use of our time. Why? So that we can be used by God.

The point is, if you want to keep Christmas going, you have to be willing to give your time.

It also means you need to be willing to give your treasure. That’s what the three Wise Men did. They brought Jesus the best of what they had. They brought him their gold, frakensence, and myhrr. Costly items meant for a king.

And the same must be true of us as we bring our financial gifts to Jesus. For us it’s called the Tithe. It’s the first 10% of what God gives you.

I know we don’t often think of it like this, but tithing is an act of worship. It’s you laying your finances at His feet. It’s you saying, “God, I trust you to take care of me. God I trust that you can do more with 90% of my income than I can do with 100%. It’s an act of worship.

Again, my point is, if we want to carry Christmas beyond we have to be willing to live a life of worship, always being prepared to give of our time, talent, and treasure.

For me, worship has become more important than ever in my walk with Jesus.

It starts in my prayer time early in the morning as I focus on how amazing God is. By thanking Him for all that He’s done for me. By acknowledging my continued need for Him. By offering my life completely to Him for His plan and purpose.

It continues through my day as I seek out opportunities to be used by Him.

It takes place in my finances as I tithe and give of my time to others.

And I can tell you, it’s changing my life. It’s changing my relationship with Jesus. It’s keeping Christmas alive in my heart and life. Because I don’t want Christmas to end on December 25th. I want it to continue throughout the year. And my hope and prayer today is that you do as well.

That being said, here are just a couple of questions for you to consider as we close:

Question #1 - What is Christmas about for you?

Is it about lights? Is it about trees? Is it about gifts? Is it just a season? Or is it something more. Is it about a who. About a savior named Jesus.

Question #2 - Beyond Christmas, do you tell people about Jesus?

The fact is, if we want Christmas to go beyond Christmas, we have to be willing to tell people about Jesus more than once a year. The Apostle Paul puts it like this:

Romans 10:14 ESV

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

Paul says the only way somebody finds out about Jesus is if somebody tells them. The question then is, “Beyond Christmas, are you willing to tell people about Jesus?”

Question #3 - Are you a sign that God uses to display Christmas?

In other words, are you a light on a hill that shines the presence of Jesus? Do your actions represent that? Does the way you treat people say that? Does the way you talk reflect that? Would people look to you as somebody who brings hope. Somebody that represents something they don’t have in their life. Are you somebody that shines in darkness and points people to a savior named Jesus?

I think that’s a great question for all of us to ask. Because on December 26th, the Christmas lights will come down, and with it the cheer of many will fade.

But what if the light continued? What if through our lives the light of hope continued to shine? What if Christmas continued through us as we shine the light of Jesus throughout the rest of the year.

But for that to happen, we have to be committed to our relationship with Jesus. We have to be committed to growing in our faith. We have to be committed to becoming less like the world and more like Jesus. We have to be committed to allowing the light of who Jesus is to shine through us.

And I promise you MCF, if we are committed to doing that. Christmas will continue to have a presence beyond December 25th. And right now, more than ever, people need Christmas. They need people like you and me pointing them to true hope. To a savior named Jesus.

Let’s Pray

God puts Christmas on display through Worship.

God puts Christmas on display for all to see.

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