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Part One: Reasons we do what we do at Christmas and all year long

 
 

Nativity Christmas Baubles

The little fellow stood off to the side of the room. Everyone was jumping up and down waiting for their special Christmas treat. As each child received their present one could hear laughter and squeals of delight. All this little boy wanted was for his mom to come home for Christmas. If she could just change her mind and come home even if she just pretended things were okay that would be enough Christmas present for him.

Why do we work with the many hurting children in our congregations? I have often thought about this issue. This really pricks my heart at holidays and special times of the year. I know most of us work with the hurting children because we love the Lord and we want to further the kingdom. But, what is the motivation year after year. I came up with the following thoughts about why we do what we do.

First

For to us a child is born,to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. (Isaiah 9:6-7 ESV)

For every little soul that comes to church, the birth of a Savior was foretold years ago. To each of us and to all our hurting kids this Savior is called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. His peace knows no end. With this Savior, there is justice and righteousness even for the hurting child.

And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. (Luke 1:46-50 ESV)

Imagine all that was going through a young girl’s mind when she came to the realization that this tiny baby growing inside her was indeed the “holy one”. In her praising the Father she asks that His mercy be extended for generations, “from generation to generation”.

Probably for the first time in the history of man, the fear of the Lord is being negated by society’s lifestyle and the breakup of the intact family. We know that divorce impacts our churches and the religious lives of our young people. Many adult children of divorce turn away from the Lord and from organized religions never to return to the religious practices of their families.

Divorce is carried from one generation to the next. Unless there is intervention, for the most part children are going to do what the parents do. Divorce divides family heritages and generational family rituals. How can the mercy of the Lord be extended to those who don’t fear Him; to those who don’t know Him and to those who purposely turn away?

Third

And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2:6-7 ESV)

Imagine the prickly hay and the coldness of the environment in the manger. And yet to those of us who know the story, this placing our Savior in a manger, elicits such warm joy. Through the many Christmas pageants and the Christmas carols we transport our minds back to that moment the baby was placed in a manager. From the minute the baby was born, our world changed.

Today our world continues to change.  It seems our form of communication is revolutionized almost every minute. Our morality is decaying literally before our eyes on TV and the Internet. But the true meaning of Christmas, of the baby being born and placed in a manager, is still alive. It still abides in the hearts of His people. Hurting children all over the world need to have the true meaning of Christmas shared with them. The children in our church classes need to learn from us about this abiding love we experience.

This article is updated and adapted from an article originally published on the Kids & Divorce blog on Dec 21, 2015.

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3 thoughts on “Part One: Reasons we do what we do at Christmas and all year long

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