Sermon Central
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What Christ Wants From Us For Christmas
Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Dec 20, 2022 (message contributor)
Summary: If you ask people what their favorite SEASON is most folks will answer that it is SPRING or FALL.
Why?
Because these two seasons give us a mixture of WINTER and SUMMER at the same time. That is; in these seasons it is not TOO HOT nor is it TOO COLD.
However, if you ask people what their FAVORITE THOLIDAY is, overwhelmingly many would say -- CHRISTMAS. It is a time when it seems everyone is happy!!!
Many days on our calendar are special, such as:
• St. Valentine’s Day
• St. Patrick’s Day
• Memorial Day
• Mother’s Day
• Father’s Day
• Independence Day
• Memorial Day
• Labor day, etc.
Still CHRISTMAS and EASTER have always been the most celebrated days on the calendar for christians.
Christmas is a time of giving. But going to a store to buy a gift is not an easy chore.
Illus: That’s like going to a store to buy a mother’s day card for your mother. That also is not an easy chore!!!
But have you ever bought a present for someone that seem to have everything.
Christmas is the day we have set aside as the Lord’s birthday.
BUT WHAT COULD WE POSSIBLY GIVE TO HIM WHO IS THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS.
Illus: Our church six weeks before Christmas take up a special offering for the Lord’s birthday each sunday. The deacons meet and decide what kind of a birthday gift we are going to give him. This is not an easy task!!!
I would like to suggest a few things I believe He would be please with that we can give Him individually. In fact, the things that I suggest I KNOW IT WOULD MAKE HIM HAPPY?
I. FIRST, OUR COMMITMENT TO FAITHFULNESS.
Look at Exodus 20:3. God said, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
From the beginning of the Bible we see God has always required that we COMMIT OURSELVES TO HIM AND HIM ALONE.
If you are not willing to COMMIT yourself to God and God alone, you are kidding yourself to think that you can have a relationship with Him.
A lot of folks claim to have a relationship with Him while they still bow to the gods of worldliness, but they are deceiving themselves. The Bible teaches that such a relationship is impossible.
Most of us would not accept such a relationship, so why do we expect God to accept one like that?
If He accepted such a relationship it would make Him as “dumb” as some people who do accept a relationship on those conditions.
For example.
Illus: A lady called in to a national radio talk show to explain to psychologist Laura Schlesinger about her problem.
She told the psychologist, “I love this man and I want to marry him, but he will not marry me.”
She went on to say that the man claimed that he loved her but was not willing to make a commitment.
The psychologist interrupted her and said, “Let me ask you something, and I know the answer before I ask. Are you folks intimate in your relationship?”
The caller answered, “Yes, we have been. What should I do?”
The psychologist said, “If you have a brain in your head you will dump this fellow. What he is saying is that he wants your body when he asks for it, but he does not want to make any kind of commitment to you.”
That was some good advice.
Yes, there are people who will accept such a relationship. They call it LOVE. It has nothing to do with love. It has everything to do with STUPIDITY.
A lot of folks think they can play that kind of game with God.
They think they can have all the fringe benefits of the Christian life while at the same time make no commitment to God whatsoever.
Well, God requires TOTAL COMMITMENT. He said, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
While many do not take commitment seriously, there are some who do. There are some WHO ARE SO NERVOUS ABOUT IT THAT IT SENDS SHIVERS UP THEIR SPINES TO EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!
Illus: Such was the case of one young man. He stood before the minister to say his marriage vows. To him “commitment” was an awesome word and awesome concept.
In fact, while the preacher was in the midst of his charge to the couple, the young man passed out. They stood him back on his feet. He said he was all right so the minister proceeded. When he got to the commitment part again, the young man passed out again. This time they let him sit in a chair. As he sat there, with a wet cloth on his forehead the pastor came to that part that states that awesome responsibility of his committing his life to this one lady and guess what! He passed out again! When he was finally conscious again, the pastor looked at him, lying in the floor and said, “Say ‘I do.’” The young man said, “I do!.” The minister said, “Congratulations, you are married!”
