Let Christ Be Your Life

Introduction

I’ve always been curious about people’s occupations. So I’m apt to ask you, what do you do for a living? And then the probe further to say, well, what do you do? What does that look like on a day-to-day basis? I get nosy about what people do for a living. I want to know the inner workings of those jobs and occupations. Well, I’m a preacher. Greg and I are the evangelist here. Do you want to know about preaching? I can tell you the hardest part of preaching. No contest. The hardest part of preaching is when someone asks you what you do for a living.

Because you know about four things are going to follow. When you reply, I’m a preacher. The first thing happens is that person pauses. And you can see their mind racing backwards as they’re thinking, Did I say anything inappropriate up until this time? The second thing is that awkward dance when they then say, Oh, you’re a pastor. And we began to speak two different languages to one another for a few moments. A third thing would inevitably happen, they’ll say, sometimes in jest, maybe not, oh, so you just work on Sundays. And by the way, preachers just laugh. The third thing, or now the fourth thing, is that they’ll usually ask some obscure biblical or spiritual question. Had a man confront me in McDonald’s when he found out I was a preacher.

And he wanted to know what my view of the obvious biblical references to aliens and UFOs were. And another thing happens usually about this time of year when they find out you’re a preacher. This time of year or around Easter. They want to know what special program are you having at church. And again, we proceed for a few awkward moments when we began to speak two different languages. You’re visiting with us this morning, you may be a little surprised at the simplicity of our worship. And so I think it’s okay for us to talk about the elephant in the room. Or about the donkey and the camel that aren’t in the room. We don’t have a special Christmas program for you this morning. We’ve attempted to worship God in spirit and in truth this Lord’s Day morning, like we have every other Lord’s Day morning before it.

But we believe it’s scriptural, and we make no apologies for it. In fact, it may surprise much of the world to know that there’s no biblical mandate for a Christmas observation. In fact, there’s no biblical mention of it at all. No command, no example, not even an inference for a local congregation to engage in some kind of Christmas ceremony or program. Now we understand that individual Christians may celebrate this holiday to varying degrees. And we understand, turn with me, if you will, in the book of Colossians, chapter 2 that allowances must be made sometimes for individual differences and consciences. In a different context, but I believe the principle may apply here. The apostle says by inspiration in Colossians chapter 2, verse 16, so let no one judge you in food or in drink or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbath.

And so individual Christians may celebrate this season to varying degrees, but as a congregation, we’re going to worship God in spirit and in truth. But it’s unavoidable if you live in America at this time of year to know that since about Halloween, it’s been the Christmas season. Decorations are everywhere. Reminders are everywhere. Many of you may be visiting with us today because of the Christmas season. Either because you’ve got time off from work because of that season, or you’re on your way to or from visiting family, as we often do during this holiday season. And there are certain things about the Christmas season that are just kind of typical and accepted and probably observed by many, if not most of us. And many of those things we would argue are positive things.

When people exhibit what we might call the Christmas spirit.

1. A Spirit of Giving

Certain attitudes and actions that we often will see almost only in the month of December. That I would argue that for the child of God should be our attitude and our action every day of the year. Now, what typically happens in the Christmas season, the Christmas spirit. Well, one thing that is certainly very common in this time of year is that it’s a spirit of giving.

Many people will go extremely in debt, buying stuff to give to family and friends and co-workers and neighbors, and the list goes on and on of people that you feel obligated to give some gift to. And we enjoy that giving. But that spirit of giving in our culture does not simply stop at the idea of the exchanging of gifts between family and friends and co-workers and neighbors. It extends beyond that. I read recently that charitable giving, actually, one third of all annual charitable giving takes place in the month of December. People are just more generous. And they’re more giving this time of year. And that’s a good thing. But you know what a better thing is? Is that for a child of God, that should be our spirit throughout the year.

That Christians, among many other things, Christians ought to be identified as people who are giving and generous.

Look over in Acts chapter 20. In Acts chapter 20, on the subject of giving. A familiar refrain in Acts chapter 20 and in verse 35, the apostle says, I have shown you, again, Acts 20, verse 35, I have shown you in every way by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of our Lord Jesus that he said, it is more blessed to give than to receive. I want to challenge all of us this morning to be givers. Not during a particular month of the year, but to be people who are generous and who are giving. Giving means much more than just money and gifts. The giving of time and of interest. I’m going to tell you the cliche is true.

People would much rather have your time and your attention many times than some gift or money. Be that. No, I need to pause here to boast. I want to boast on South Bumby. I found it that you’re a very giving, generous people. Both congregationally and individually. Any need that is expressed is readily, happily, and abundantly met. And you’re to be applauded for that. Because that’s what God’s people ought to do. Look further with me in the epistle of the Philippians, Philippians chapter 2. That this spirit and this attitude that sadly only characterizes some people of the world during a certain season should be ours throughout. In Philippians chapter 2 and in verse 4, here’s the Christian mindset every day. Let each of you, Philippians 2, verse 4, let each of you look not only for his own interest, but also for the interest of others.

I want to emphasize in that verse the word look. Look out for. You will be amazed at the opportunities that you have to give and to help if you’ll but look. I may have used this illustration before, but you’ll never see as many blue Toyotas in your life until you buy a blue Toyota. Isn’t it amazing how that happens? Nobody had a blue Toyota until you bought one. And now everybody has one. Well, we know that’s not really the case. What happens is we’re now seeing those. Those things were there every day, but now we’re made aware of them because subconsciously or consciously we’re looking for those things. The same is true for opportunities to serve, to help, and to give. You will be amazed at how many opportunities there are once you begin to look.

2. Family Togetherness

Once you begin to look out for not only your own interest, but the interest of others. Something else that often characterizes this time of year, and sadly, again, only this time of year, is the idea of family togetherness. That’s what makes this time of year, both Thanksgiving and Christmas a favorite for a lot of people, is because that’s when we get together with family. It’s kind of like funerals. I’ve gone to a lot of funerals recently. And I’m going to tell you, there’s two, at least two good things about funerals. Number one is it is sadly an opportunity that you’ll see people that that’s the only time you’ll see them as a funeral. Because people will stop, change their plans, all come in for that family member’s funeral.

And so I see aunts and uncles and cousins at funerals, and that’s the only time that I see them. But you know another good thing about funerals is that it lets us let down our defenses. And we’ll say things in a chapel at a funeral home they won’t otherwise say. And good thing. We’ll say, I love you. We’ll say, I’ve been thinking about you a lot. We’ll say what that person, both the deceased and the living, what they mean to us. And we’ll let down that wall of protection and we’ll be vulnerable and appropriately emotional at those times. That’s also true of this season. But I want to encourage you again to not limit that to one month out of the year. So not just two national holidays, but to understand your obligation, your God mandated obligation to your family.

The apostle said to those who were shirking their responsibility, he would say that if anyone does not provide for his own, especially those of his own household, that’s his family, that he has denied the faith and he is worse than an unbeliever. We have obligations placed upon us for family. And although in that immediate context, certainly he was maybe primarily talking about the financial obligations that we have, we understand also from scriptures that our obligations to family extend far beyond that. A Christian’s family should be the model for the rest of the world of how we care for one another, how we love one another, how we provide for one another, not just financially, not just physically, but emotionally, spiritually. And by the way, if you have not been privileged to have that physical family.

3. Be Kind to One Another

Or maybe the physical family that you do have is an absolute wreck and a shambles. Thanks be to God that you’ve been given another family. The most common expression in the Bible of Christians, whether it be our relationship to God or relationship to one another, are spoken of in familial terms. So if you don’t have a family, or if your family’s just lousy, you’ve got a spiritual family. Love and appreciate them every day. Something else that typically characterizes this season in the world’s mind is it’s a spirit, it’s a time of joy and of kindness. Now that’s not universally practiced, but maybe more than other times of the year, people are just nicer to one another, more patient, just generally happier. And while that’s good in that limited time frame, it’s also sad, isn’t it?

That we have to pause our normal antagonistic, hateful ways and suffer through the season of kindness. You know, the Bible has a lot to say about kindness. We might be surprised at how much the Bible says about being kind. Look in Ephesians chapter 4. One of these days we’ll do a sermon just on being kind. In Ephesians chapter 4 and in verse 32. After telling us what not to do, to not to lie to one another, to let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, to do away with bitterness, wrath, and anger. The positive in verse 32 is this be kind to one another. Tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ Jesus also forgave you.

And many times that’s the way we want to define our Christianity, isn’t it? I’m a Christian because I don’t do A, B, C. And we list many times those egregious, heinous sins that we don’t practice. And don’t misunderstand me. That’s a part of being a Christian. Paul to the Colossians said you need to put off those works of the flesh. But that same apostle inspired by the same Holy Spirit would also go on to say, but put on. And so it’s time for us to be defined as Christians not just by what we don’t do, but also by what we actively do. Be kind to one another. And by the way, familiarity and proximity do not give us an excuse to not practice kindness. So many times we’re kinder to absolute strangers than we might be to our own family members.

To our own brethren. But Paul, writing to a local church, says, be kind to one another. Tender hearted. And again, lest we go astray, our kindness is not defined by what we don’t do. I’m kind to you because I didn’t call you an ugly name. I’m kind to you because I didn’t throw a rock at you. I’m kind to you because I didn’t throw trash in your yard. That’s not what Paul is saying. He is saying, be kind. That is an active verb, be kind, do something. And so I want to challenge you, not because it’s the Christmas season, but because you’re a child of God. I want to challenge you this next week and the week following that through the middle of March, August, and October, that you do something for somebody.

4. Filled With Joy

Be kind. That may be a phone call. A visit, a card, a timely arm on their shoulder. Words of encouragement. I have a file folder in my office that’s labeled encouragement. And in that file folder, I’ve attempted to keep every card that’s ever been sent to me, the nice ones at least. They mean that much to me. And if I want to feel good, I’ll open up that folder. And I’ll read those words. Written by saints, some of them already going on to their reward. It brings back a flood of memories. And it encourages me. Don’t ever diminish the importance of one act of kindness. And as Christians, we’re to be filled with joy. If anybody in this sin torn and damaged existence of a world has reason to smile and be joyous, it’s a child of God.

The apostle would say again in the book of Philippians, chapter 2. Philippians chapter 2 and in verse 14. Do all things without complaining and disputing. Lord help me. Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain and labored in vain. I want you to notice that in this context where Paul says you are to be lights of the world, and that you might endure so that this labor has not been in vain. That in the context of those important principles, he mentions joy, not complaining and grumbling.

We’re to be lights of the world.

And that is certainly true. Our ethics and our morals, not in some egotistical holier than thou attitude, but our ethics and morals should shine as lights in the world. But in this context, Paul says you’re going to stand out as a light in the world by not complaining and grumbling, but to do what he would also say in this letter, rejoice. Always rejoicing. Christians, more than anyone else, have a reason to smile. Be happy. And let your face know about it. Let your light shine. Because we have reason to rejoice because we know how this story ends.

5. A Focus Upon Christ

And we can be joyous. Certainly, this season is characterized by this last point. That there’s a focus upon Christ. Again, that’s good and bad, isn’t it? It’s bad in the sense that though people may be celebrating an aspect of the life of Christ, they may be singing songs to him at this time of year. The sad part is it might be the only time of the year that they do that spirit throughout.

And again, I want to challenge you to not get lost in the doings of being a Christian such that you forget the reason for being a Christian. And that is Christ. The Hebrew writer encouraged us to keep our eyes upon Him. That was not written as a background for a Christmas cantata. That was written to Christians to focus every day of their lives upon Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Turn with me to the Colossian letter, Colossians chapter three. Don’t ever forget this. Every day of your life. Every season of your life. Whether you be on the mountain or in the valley, whether you be in the sunshine, basking or in the depths of a storm, remember Colossians 3, verse 4. When Christ, who is our life, appears, then you will also appear with him in glory.

Self inspection time, can you say that Christ is your life? Not in December, but in every month. Christ, who is our life. Skip down to verse 11, where he will sum it up by saying, In him there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian slave nor free. But Christ is all and in all. What does it mean to be a Christian? Christ. He is our life. He is our all and in all. And we bow before the great I am every day of our Christian walk. So when this season passes, the decorations are taken down. The world reverts back to its ugly cell. The gifts are put aside for the next yard sale. Remember the spirit that should be ours every day. Keep being kind and generous.

Conclusion

Keep being joyous and happy. Remember your family, both physical and spiritual. And remember your life. Your all in all is Christ Jesus. Our simple plea goes along with our simple service this morning. If you would come to Christ and make Him your life. You’re lost this morning. Have no hope and really no joy in your life. Why not turn that around by giving your life to Christ? In obedience to Him. Believe that He is your all in all. Surrender your will to Him. That’s repentance, repenting of your sins. Turning your back on that life of sin. Proudly, not just this day, but every day of your life. Confess your faith in Him and be baptized into His blood that your sins might be washed away. Would you be obedient to Him today?

Is there any way that you need to render obedience to that gospel? Let us assist you. Let us help you in praise with you this morning as you obey that gospel. Can we help you in any spiritual way? Let it be known right now. Together we stand and sing.