Christmas is not the normal time of year for churches to be hosting missionaries. Normally, during this time of year we enjoy sermons revolving around the significance of the humble little manger, or about how the shepherd’s hillside became the opening act in the greatest production the world has ever seen. Fulfilled prophecy, answered prayer, and the numberless unique and profound ramifications that come out of the fact that God made Himself accountable and answerable to the law He created are the beautiful pictures we usually fill our churches with this time of year. We are not usually looking for challenges to head to the darkest corners of the earth as God’s ambassadors while we gather with our families and enjoy the warmth and security that is those people and places we hold dear.
A careful look at the Christmas story however demands that we consider and take to heart the missionary principles we see glaring at us from its timeless truths. You see, this time of year is not merely a quaint opportunity for Sunday school classes to dress up in bathrobes, tinsel, and the oversized crowns of the three kings. It is so much more than that.
It’s about seeing in that humble manger God’s ultimate overture of love to mankind. It’s seeing in Mary and Joseph, Elizabeth and Zachariah, Simeon, Anna, and all the other players in this story that special devotion to the promises God made to the Father’s all those years ago. It’s seeing in them the awe once they realized that it was them, not the kings or the patriarchs, not David or Abraham, not Isaiah or one of the prophets but they themselves who were going to witness first hand these truths, these promises living, walking and working among them.
The Christmas story considers human history and notices that mankind as a whole have never sought God, served God or even really cared that He existed as He defines himself. It notices that every imagination of the thoughts of mankind are only evil continually yet God still chose to send His Son into this world, previously knowing that the world would respond in anger and hatred.
This is the essence of Christmas that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them but freely offering Himself once and for all as the atonement for their sin.
This is the message of Christmas, that God was stooping low to meet the needs of mankind, to love and cherish the creation that had turned its back on Him.
This is the life of Christmas that should constrain all those who have found in Jesus the life and satisfaction that He’s promised He would be. This is the option that compels us to be like Him. This is the grace that has appeared to all men. This is the life that cries out to us to let this mind be in us as it was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God but made Himself of no reputation and took upon Him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men. Who, being found in fashion as a man, humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
It is the story of a blind man, blind from birth, sharing His story with the Pharisees, Chief Priests and Scribes.
It is the story of the disciples, finding courage, hope and strength in the resurrection and going on to turn the world upside down.
It is the story of William Carey, Hudson Taylor, CT Studd and David Livingston, who each found in Jesus Christ something they could not get anywhere else.
It’s the story of Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, Martin Burnham, and countless others who have not held dear even their own lives so that sick and dying people would know that their deliverance has been secured.
It’s the story of Brian and Dianne DeMarte- of Bob and Martha Ensminger, and thousands of others who lay aside the human comforts to spend their lives for those who would not otherwise know.
Will it become the story of your life as well? Will it become for you and me our greatest goal, our ultimate desire, our only satisfaction because we too are compelled by the ramifications of love?
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