“God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life” (John 3:16).
Now that Christmas is over and all the hustle and bustle that goes with it. We need to think about the lessons that Christmas teaches.
The first lesson teaches us about God and his love. A father took his young son to the top of a mountain one day, and they talked about God and his love. The father looked North and said, “God’s love extends as far as we can go that way.” Then he turned East, South, and West, each time saying, “God’s love extends as far as we can go that way.” There was quietness for a moment or so as the boy thought about what his father had said. Then his face lit up, and he blurted out, “Oh, Dad, we are right in the middle of it!” No matter who we are, or what we have done, we are all right in the middle of God’s love.
Christmas offers several lessons for the Church. If God couldn’t win people by staying home, neither can we. We are like lifeguards; we must get into the water to save people. Once among the people, the best way to win them is not to judge, condemn, or criticize them, but simply love them.
Christmas offers a lesson for those who don’t know God at all. Jesus came to seek and to save those who are lost. That includes the vilest among us, and the most moral and ethical, who have simply never come to know him. Salvation is personal and relational. If we seek Christ, we will find him, because he is seeking us.
Dr. Robert Wilkerson is a minister, writer, and founder of People for the Christian Way. drbobwilkerson@bellsouth.net, www.peopleforthechristianway.com
