Today I am taking part in my Tuesday ritual. Head to the Metrocentre in Gateshead, go to Starbucks, grab a coffee and study for my next preaching/ leadership night/ or whatever my next speaking engagement happens to be. I love sitting here reading, writing and watching the world go by. Today is no different, except for the fact that people seem to be walking a little quicker, carrying a few more bags and are probably slightly more hassled than usual.
Its the Christmas season.
I am watching the sales people on the stall in the middle of the walkway trying to attract potential customers and get them to stop. There are many refusals, some polite with a smile, some not so polite (usually pointing to their watch as they refuse) and some just completely ignore the attempts of the retail staff. How many refusals must they get in a day, yet they still continue on with a smile!
Christmas can get so busy with all the shopping, the parties and the preparation for the big day that we can forget the importance of this period that we, as followers of Christ, are in.
This is the time we celebrate His entering into the mess of humanity to put the finishing touches to God's master plan for our reconciliation back into the family in place. We are not just celebrating the birth of Christ but also, in the words of the carol
Born that we no more may die, Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth.
This plan wasn't an afterthought of God but it was put together before the foundations of the earth were laid. His intention for humanity has always been to bring us back to himself despite our rebellion and disobedience. Christmas reminds us that God is good and He thoughts toward us are good.
Christmas reminds us that we have an intricate part to play in this plan. God chose Mary to carry Jesus, Joseph to take care of Mary, shepherds to spread the good news, the Wise men to give credibility to His birth and us to be witnesses to why His birth is vital for mankind.
In the busyness of Christmas don't be too busy to share with you friends, family and work colleagues why we, as Christians, love Christmas. It is because it shows Jesus' amazing love, God's incredible grace and the all encompassing fellowship of the Holy Spirit towards us.
If a small group of sales people can keep asking, despite rejection after rejection, can we, who have the very words of eternal life in us, keep talking to people about this Jesus in a manger.
Have a blessed Christmas.
Remember, God has crowned your year with favour.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Thoughts from a Pastor
Thoughts from Jon Cook, Senior Pastor of NCLC.
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I have been following an advent reading plan on http://audacio.us/ and it only today, 11 days in, started with the accounts of Jesus' birth. Up to now the readings have all been taken from the various prophecies about Jesus, his birth and his life.
ReplyDeleteI have found it really striking how, hundreds of years in advance of His coming, God's plan was already formulated and shared down to tiny details. Through the inter-Testamental period, hundreds of years of hearing nothing from God, there was still this plan that, when the time was right, the plan would be actioned.
Then it hits me that goodness knows how many years ago God plotted out a similarly detailed plan for my life...
Great blog, Jon; I've never thought of how the sales people manage to keep going in the face of being ignored or rejected. It's amazing how we can get good examples to learn from all kinds of places. Challenging as I'm sure I'm less persistent than they in the face of friends who don't listen.
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