What would Jesus do?

Christmas musings

One would have to be quite imaginative to picture Jesus scurrying about Wal-Mart, Target and Sears doing last-minute gift shopping.  It’s easier to see Him slipping into town midst the holiday hub-bub, then preaching and healing on the steps of a central church.  Easier, because His motivation is always to do His Father’s will and to provide things of eternal value.  In fact, that scenario is similar to what He actually DID do, often — including during Israel’s festivals.  According to Matthew: "Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people" (9:35).  Luke concurs: "They ... went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where" (9:6).  Today, Jesus would be more like an itinerant evangelist and not welcome in synagogues or many churches — certainly not by Santa.

Though unable to speak on that first Christmas, Jesus’ presence directed people’s attention to God; He did likewise on the first Easter:  "Jesus saith unto (Mary), Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God" — Jn 20:17.  Jesus is a believer’s “GPS” (God-pointing Savior).  He’s always directing others to God and is always about doing His will.  When His work on earth was done, he then commissioned His disciples (ie: Christians) to carry on what He’d divinely begun.  He told us to always do likewise.

Jesus has come — we’re now to “Go!”

He said, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" — Mt 28:19.  This is an ongoing directive around which a believer’s life should be structured — and it doesn’t exempt holidays (they merely provide additional opportunity).  Any approach-to-Christmas questions should be directed to God.  Ie: “How can I best serve you this holiday season?”  If we’re in tune with Jesus, we’re always listening to and obeying God; always getting about our responsibilities to family, society and church, but especially attentive to the harvest field.  This is not to say we’re to neglect joyously celebrating Christmas with loved ones.  We’re simply petitioning for a more biblical mindset and evangelistic awareness.  In short; now that we can rejoice in our OWN salvation, let’s go into the harvest and actually DO what our Saviour, Jesus, commanded — reap.

“But”, a believer might protest, “I’m not ‘called’, nor a ‘Minister’” (eg: servant).  Not true!  Believers are indeed called to serve God.  Scripture reminds us:  "He hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father" (Rev 1:6a).  Another excuse is: “I don’t have the ‘anointing’”!

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