THE
CHRISTMAS SPIRIT
Thursday,
December 18, 2014
Romans
12:1-3 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the
mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and
acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this
world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may
discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. For
by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself
more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each
according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
Where did the idea of Christmas spirit come
from, the attitude of giving? Was it by way of the Magis’ example in expensive
gifts to baby Jesus? Or, was it some brilliant ad-man many years ago that had
an idea on how to stimulate commerce, and line his pockets with gold in the
process?
I’m not against gift giving. I enjoy
receiving gifts. (I am not soliciting!) And certainly do enjoy giving. Giving
does not however always work out as expected. As we excitedly, lovingly give,
the reactions of some recipients are not exactly in what we consider Christmas
spirit.
Years ago, women of the Evangelical Methodist
Church, Dublin, Maryland, donated over $7,800.00 (Originally $1,000.00 in 1960.)
to purchase Christmas turkey meals for poor families in their rural farming
county. Two young deacons eagerly volunteered to make deliveries to 10 families
chosen from needy children in the large Sunday School. (Oddly, attendance was
about 20% higher than worship service.)
At 8 of the 10 households there were numerous
adult men sitting smoking and drinking beer though a workday morning. Full
ashtrays and empty beer bottles littered the rooms. Asked about their
employment status, in all 8 houses, to a man, they responded with some variation
of “We’re looking.”
Later, when one family’s children were asked
by their Sunday School teacher if they enjoyed their Christmas meal, the child
sadly replied “No ma’am, the adults got drunk after you left. They fell asleep
and left the boxes on the kitchen table and the dogs and cats had their way
with it. The next morning there was a big fight over whose fault it was.”
A caring lady baked a cake for a poor family.
The single mother and children expressed their thanks. The children clambered
to cut the cake so as to enjoy it with Miss Barb.
The mother smiled as she backed thru the kitchen swinging door carrying the
cake. When she doesn’t return as expected, one of the children went to
investigate. Suddenly the child loudly wailed. When all entered the kitchen
they saw the mother with chocolate on hands and face. In her dysfunction she
had ungraciously gobbled the entire cake! The kids scrambled to get the crumbs
that had fallen on the table and floor.
A male mentor, while playing basketball,
notices his “little brother” needs news shoes. Joyously watching the boy unwrap
his gift, he is disappointed when the boy complains they’re not the expensive
brand his peers wear.
A Sunday School class collects $1,200 to fill
a gift list for an inmate’s family. When delivered by a married couple from the
church, there’s no thanks but a “Just put the stuff over there.” as they
continue playing their video games.
Discouraged yet? I could go on and on and I’m
sure many of you could relate stories of your own experience. Especially those of
you involved in rescue missions, jail and prison ministry, and addiction
counseling.
How do we refresh and/or maintain our spiritual
sensibility? By looking to The Word (Jn.1:1) for example, direction, and
staying power.
God gave His most precious gift, His only
begotten Son, Jesus. He was rejected casually and cruelly by most then, as now.
But God did not withdraw His grace! Though betrayed, vilified, crucified . . .
His salvation was and is largely refused . . . and even when accepted, often
misused.
Let us not turn aside from reaching out to
others. Let ours be a heart fruitfully after the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit;
manifesting Christ-worship (Christmas) all year long. (Rom.12:1-3)
“Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the
Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of
his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind
of firstfruits of his creatures.” (ESV James 1:16-18) EBB4
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