I am starting this day early rushing out the door with a cup of Door County Apple Cobbler Coffee in my hand. I have a long drive ahead and am looking forward to listening to one of my favorite radio preachers.
This coming Saturday our house will be filled with people that will go out in groups to a couple of nursing homes to spread Christmas cheer, gifts to the residents and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Afterwards they return to our home where we celebrate what God has done and just plain old enjoy each other's company. The meal is easy. We prepare large electric roasters full of different soups and we serve hot beverages with the soups. It is about as simple as it gets.
We always receive feedback from those who go out singing and interacting with the elderly. We hear things like "we should do that more often or that was so nice." But there is more to the visit than what I described. Some of the ladies will polish the finger nails for the residents, others will rub lotion on sore hands and at times feet. Many will sit and listen to old war stories. I have never pointed out that what we are doing we do for Jesus. This year I will.
Here is the simplest explanation for Christmas I could find. Please put these verses in your heart today. Today is the 2nd of December. Let this be your Christmas theme. Let it be the theme of your heart and then every day can be like Christmas.
Matthew 25:31-46 (NIV)
The Sheep and the Goats
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Love you all.
Marty
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