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AUTO-FOCUS YOUR CHRISTMAS
Luke 1:46-55
I. Are you focused?
A. (Auto-focus camera, neat things...
- use as prop)
B. Experiencing the miracle of
Christmas requires focusing
on
what truly honors God.
II. Everyone wants Christmas to be
wonderful.
A. Americans - material things are
the secret to pulling it off.
1) Catalogs make a fortune this
time of year.
B. Material things were not central
at original Christmas.
1) Money or possessions didn't matter
to God.
2) He wanted love and trust.
C. Most people are not good at doing
what God wants.
1) Look at yourself.
a) We don't tend to grasp
God's desires, much less do them.
2) Mary was different.
a) This young peasant girl had a
deep faith.
b) She recognized God's call,
and acted on it.
III. God's plan
began with a virgin.
A. He tells her exactly what's going
to happen.
1) God doesn't tend to get
involved overtly in our world.
a) We often wish he would
make his intentions more clear.
b) Usually he doesn't.
2) The angel has to remind her,
"Nothing is impossible with God."
B. Mary displays a remarkable degree
of understanding.
1) She is obedience, patient,
humble, and holy.
2) "I am the Lord's
servant. May it be to me as you have
said."
C. Mary is a model for all true
Christians.
1) As Luther put it, the greatest
miracle was not that Mary
conceived,
but that she believed.
2) Her prayer of obedient
submission,
"Let it be unto me
according to thy word,"
anticipates that of her Son in
Gethsemane,
"Not my will, but Thine be done."
IV. Mary's focus.
A. She shows a deep knowledge of the
Bible.
1) Her song recalls Hannah's song
in 1 Samuel 2:1-10.
2) Both women had babies who were
used mightily of God.
3) Mary and Hannah had a sense of
justice, with a difference.
a) Hannah has poor being
raised to sit with nobles. 1 Sam 2:8
b) Mary sees the nobles
toppled from power. Lk 1:52
B. She acknowledges God as her
Savior. 1:47
1) Catholic doctrine of
"Immaculate Conception."
2) But only sinners need a
savior.
3) Her song begins and ends with
FOCUS on God, not herself.
C. She believes God can do great
things.
1) For herself.
2) For her people the Jews.
a) Many signs to contrary.
1> Roman occupation of
her land.
b) Like Habakkuk, she
rejoices through faith, more than sight.
V. What do you really want this
Christmas?
A. We want the continuing miracle of
God's involvement in our lives.
1) But we are still tempted to
value material world over the
spiritual.
2) The heart of Christmas is in
the spiritual.
Jo Carr tells about a children's
Christmas program she once
attended.
All the songs had been sung,
and the candles lit.
The shepherds had come to peek
at the baby, and the wise men
had
brought their gifts.
Then all the cast in the story
of the first Christmas began
to
leave... wise men, shepherds, angels.
Only Mary and Joseph and the
child remained.
Then Joseph turned to go.
And Mary, glancing back at the
crib, began to follow.
But suddenly she turned back,
snatched up the baby doll by
the
foot, threw it under her arm, and left."
It was that final episode that
struck Jo Carr.
Mary had almost forgotten Jesus.
Then, suddenly, she remembered
and fiercely clutched him
under
her arm.
B. Learn to get a focus on what's
truly God-honoring.
1) Rejoice in God your Savior.
2) Pray like Mary, "Lord, I
want to glorify you in this season."
C. Ways to honor God this season.
1) Tuck a special song in your
heart.
a) [Joy To The World, like a
mantra]
2) Ask God to put someone on your
heart you can help financially.
a) Some in our church have
already done this, with
gratifying
results.
3) Consider giving a Christmas
pardon to someone you've locked
out
of your life.
a) Clemency, like a governor.
b) How NOT to do it:
"In spite of the truly
stinky things you've done to me,
in a spirit of peace and
goodwill, I'm extending to you
a
most undeserved but magnanimous pardon.
Now start to
show
you deserve it!"
4) Add a Christian touch to your
decorating.
a) Put presents in a manger
instead of under a tree.
b) Small things like this can
put your focus right.
5) Find a place for a quiet half-hour of
meditation each week.
a) Personal Bible study on
Old Testament prophecies.
6) Help Salvation Army, or Angel
Tree project.
7) Go to Christmas Eve service,
and to Cantata.
8) Write a yearly Christmas letter to
Jesus.
a) Helps to focus your
spiritual thoughts.
b) After several years, it is
like a journal.
VI. Majoring in the majors.
A. Don't get caught up in so many
secondary things you miss
the
primary ones.
B. Mary shows us how to go in the
right direction.
C. Gifts and Santa have their (small)
place, but Jesus is the
true
miracle of the season.
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