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The Message for Dec 10, 2017
Romans 5:6-11
Love
Rob Miller, Pastor
We begin with an Advent Video… Check it out…
Love -- that’s our topic for today…
Two weeks – two more weeks until Christmas. You still have time to procrastinate… I mean, you still have time to do your shopping… Now - I can’t believe I’m about to say this – but it’s true – Christmas shopping can be fun. It really can be. It’s what we make it.
Christmas shopping can be a bit challenging too. Choosing that special gift to express our love to that special someone can be difficult. You want to make sure the person you’re giving that gift to -- knows exactly how much you love them.
That’s the reason for gift-giving. Our gifts are wrapped with love not just paper.
Did you hear about the guy who bought his wife a beautiful diamond ring for Christmas? He was bragging to a friend about it. The friend said, “I thought your wife wanted a new sporty 4-Wheel Drive Jeep? I know you can afford it.”
“She does,” the guy replied. “But where am I gonna find a fake Jeep?” Can you feel the love from that guy?
On the other hand -- sometimes people go way too far into debt buying gifts we really can’t afford to give to people we really don’t like anyway. By-the-way please, please, please do not buy me anything for Christmas… Don’t do it! Instead -- give that money to a charity of your choice… Might I suggest United Christian Ministries…
For most of us, our loved ones get the most valuable Christmas gifts from us and from there we use an imaginary sliding scale of lesser and lesser value for the other people in our lives.
Billy was sent to the “Dollar Store” to buy some white elephant gifts. He had no idea what a white elephant gift was -- so he spent histime actually looking for white elephants.
Sometimes we give white elephant gifts at Christmas. You know what I’m talking about… They are strange gifts - sometime inappropriate gifts. Gifts that have no meaning… Like
Mermaid Socks…
Sweater Mug Huggers…
Donut Onesie…
2-Can Drinking Helmet…
It’s important to give gifts especially at Christmas… They should reflect our love for the people in our lives.
As we get ready for Christmas this year, let’s make sure we remember one thing. Christmas is a God thing. It was God’s idea. God planned this whole Christmas thing.
I always thought that gift-giving at Christmas was a marketing ploy by the manufacturing industry and the retailers. One day some perfume people got together with the electric razor people and voila – Christmas! But actually gift-giving at Christmas began with God.
Christmas is about God’s gift. God sent Jesus to save us from our sins… to save us from ourselves… to save us from Satan… to save us from eternal damnation. Now, let’s be clear – those are no white elephant gifts!
Here are some of the other gifts that God gives to us through Jesus...
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)
But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”(James 4:6)
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God,who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.(James 1:5)
Those are some wonderful gifts -- eternal life, peace, grace, and wisdom. Today we consider another gift that God gives to us through Jesus…
It is by far the strongest force in the universe.
It is higher than the highest mountain.
It is deeper than the deepest sea.
It is better than a $500 gift card to the Mall.
It is better than a box of chocolates and a dozen red roses.
It is more powerful than a new power tool and brighter than a big screen TV.
It is better than a hot bath with candles and a good book.
It is better than losing 30 pounds.
It’s better than a baby that sleeps all night, toddlers that don’t whine, and a teenager that doesn’t get moody.
It is more special than a spouse who appreciates how hard you work.
It’s more important than grandchildren who visit often and always give you a hug and kiss even after they turn 16.
It’s better than a pot-luck dinner at church.
It’sbetter than a brand new Ford Mustang…
Do you know what it is? It’s love.
For God so lovedthe world that he gavehis one and only Son,that whoever believesin him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
That’s the reason God started this whole Christmas gift-giving thing -- because God loves us.
A few years ago a survey was taken asking peopleone question. What three-word sentence would you most like to hear someone say to you?
The top three answers sum up the needs we all have.
- I love you.
- I forgive you.
- Supper is ready.
Pretty much covers it, doesn’t it? We need to be loved, we need forgiveness, and we need the basics (food and water). God meets every one of these needs for us. God meets all of our needs because - God loves us!
If God were to show up right here – right now, and sit down beside you, turning and looking you straight into your eyes – do you know what God would say? I don’t know everything God would say, but I do have a pretty good idea that God would say first. “My precious child – I love you.”
How do I know this? Because the Bible tells us so. God has been trying to get through to us from the very beginning…
In the Garden of Eden, God said it through the beauty of creation. By walking with Adam and Eve. By meeting their needs even after they sinned and got kicked out of the garden.
In the flood, God said it through the Ark and the rainbow.
Throughout the stories of the Bible in the Old Testament and the New Testament.
In the manger,God said, “Here is my gift of love, my Son.”
On the cross… “Here is the life of my Son, given for you, for the forgiveness of your sins.”
Through the resurrection. “Death has been defeated.”
"For God so loved the world…”
A pastor was visiting an elderly couple for dinner. During dinner the husband always talked sweetly to his wife. Each time, he addressed her as “Sweetheart, please pass the butter.” Or “Honey, will you get us some more coffee?” “Thank you, my love.”
When the wife went to the kitchen, the pastor said to the husband, “Frank, it’s wonderful that after more than fifty years of marriage you are still calling your wife by all those wonderful endearing names – love, honey, and sweetheart.
The husband said, “Well, preacher, actually about ten years ago, I forgot her name…can you help out me here?”
God knows us. God knows our name and God will never forget it. God knows everything about us. God knows what dirty, rotten, low-down, lousy, selfish sinners we are, and yet, Godstill loves us.
That’s what our reading for today is all about…
Romans 5:6-11
Christmas is a God thing. Jesus came to live for us - die for us - and reconcile us to God and to one another. Why - because God loves us.
Whether you are really excited about Christmas this year, or really struggling with Christmas, know this -- the Christ Child, born in Bethlehemand lying in the manger, is God’s way of saying, “I love you.”
It is the best gift you will ever receive.
Amen