Monday, December 8, 2014
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You remember when the word window just referred to that opening in a wall that kind of you then covered with glass? Well, NASA changed all that. A window is still an opening, but the folks at Cape Canaveral use that word to refer to that brief period of time where everything is right for the launch: the wind is okay, the weather's okay, they've checked it at the Cape, they've checked it down range, and the atmospherics are okay for communication. The conditions have been predicted for the time of return and they look good, too. But the window will pass soon. If you're going to get this thing off the ground, go when the window's open.
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Christmas Window."
Our word for today from the Word of God comes from Luke 2 beginning at verse 16. This might be a dimension of Christmas that we often miss; maybe with some tragic consequences. "So the shepherds hurried off and found Mary, and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in a manger. And when they had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child. And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them."
Now, notice it says they had seen Him and then they spread the word. The first people to ever celebrate Christmas saw it as a time for telling. That was their first response! "Man, it's time to spread this good news!" Now, 2 Corinthians 5:20 tells you what your lifetime assignment for Jesus is, "We are Christ's ambassadors." Whatever you do for a living, or go to school for, your highest calling is that you're an ambassador for Jesus Christ. If the people in your world are ever going to hear about Him, it's going to be through you. See, He's assigned you to this particular little tribe that's around where you work, or go to school, or live. That's your territory as a "missionary."
Your environment might change. You may move, but your assignment doesn't. You are His ambassador wherever He puts you. Christmas, I think, is the best window of the year for telling about your Jesus. Hearts are softer this time of year. People are open. Christ is kind of like everywhere. You can't even go to the mall without hearing songs about Him. It's never easier to talk about Jesus than during the Christmas season.
But the Devil? Oh, he loves to see us so consumed with Christmas busyness that he keeps us distracted when the window in lost hearts is the most open. Think about it. Who is there this Christmas, in this countdown to Christmas, who is there that you need to communicate Christ to? They need to hear about Jesus. Well, it's time for telling. Maybe you could put it into a letter. This Christmas season would be the time to tell them about the One who promised peace, and brought peace to your heart.
Maybe it's time to take that person out to lunch and you pay for it. Maybe it's time to give them a Christian DVD or a CD of contemporary worship music. Share with them the songs that really mean a lot to you. Most of all, tell your Hope Story; write your Hope Story. If you do Christmas cards, put it in the cards. Look for opportunities to tell your personal Hope Story of the difference Jesus has made. Maybe you need to invite them to an event that will be for lost people and "seeker friendly." They're ready to hear Christmas music. Everybody wants to hear that.
Invite them to your home afterwards, then. Don't just go to the concert. Invite them to your home to fellowship and talk about what was sung and what was said about Jesus Christ. My wife and I have had opportunity to make great progress in communicating our Jesus to our friends by that plan alone. Just invite them to a concert and have them over afterwards and talk about what we all felt.
Jesus said that it was "harvest time." He said the harvest is plentiful. And I've asked farmers, and harvest to them means "ready". Well, I believe someone around you is ready because of this Christmas season. They desperately need your Lord, and they may be more ready now than ever before.
If you're ever going to launch an effort to take that person to heaven with you, would you do it now while the Christmas window is open?