A lot of us have it just about memorized - but it's still a Christmas
classic - the Charlie Brown Christmas special on TV. You may be able to
hear that familiar piano theme in your mind even now. Right? Can you hear
it? Yeah, Charlie's efforts to find the meaning of Christmas are; of
course, repeatedly frustrated by Lucy's big mouth and Snoopy's garishly
decorated doghouse. But then there's Linus on stage, in the spotlight,
reciting the story of the first Christmas from the Bible. And Charlie
Brown's Christmas tree, of course! It is, of course, the last tree on the
lot: it's bedraggled, it's broken, and pitifuL But Charlie insists on
giving that miserable little tree his tender loving care. And by the end,
that tree, fully decorated, has become the beautiful center of the whole
gang's Christmas celebration.
It is amazing how a broken tree can become special with some tender,
loving care; or more importantly, a broken person. With all the joy of the
Christmas season, it could also be a time that reopens a lot of old
wounds; a time that intensifies the loneliness and highlights the broken
parts of your life.
And yet there's hope in that simple birth announcement the angels made the
night Jesus arrived on earth, "A Savior has been born to you." A savior!
Well, that's a rescuer-like the emergency workers who rescued people from
the rubble of the World Trade Center towers. Jesus has, in fact, been
pulling people out of the rubble for 2,000 years. He stands ready this day
to do that for you.
His invitation, recorded in Matthew 11:28, our word for today from the
Word of God, is hope for a hurting heart. Jesus said, "Come to Me, all you
who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." "Come to Me." Now,
that is Jesus' gentle invitation to you this Christmas day.' Come to Him
for things that no one else has ever been able to do for you; things that
no one on earth can do for you.
Like beginning the healing of your broken heart. The Bible says of the
Lord, "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." His
unconditional love for you, the value He gives you, the emotional safety
He provides - they provide a healing harbor for your life. Jesus' "Come to
Me" invitation is also an invitation to come to be forgiven. Ultimately,
what's broken us is the sinning that's been done against us and the
sinning that we've done against others - and, most of all, against God.
That's why we need a Savior, a Rescuer. We've hijacked our life from our
Creator. We've lived it the way we wanted to instead of the way He wants
us to. And that's put us in an orbit far from His love and far from His
purpose. In a word, the Bible calls it "lost."
But that's why that baby came to Bethlehem. That's why Jesus went to that
horrific cross to die. He was paying the penalty for every wrong thing you
and I have done. So He could forgive you and erase every sin from God's
book, which means you can go to heaven when you die. He loves you so much
He gave His life so you could be with Him forever. And then He came back
from His grave to prove He's got the power to deliver on all His
promises.
Charlie Brown's love made something special out of a broken tree. Jesus'
love for you led Him to be broken for you on the tree where He died so you
could have a brand new beginning. This is a great time of year to finally
give yourself to the One who gave Himself for you; to find the One you've
been looking for your whole life.
May this season be especially blessed for you and your family.
Please consider doing Erin and I the honor of joining us on Sunday,
December 12 after the Children's Christmas Program, for our annual Open
House here at church. In a small but very sincere way, it's our warmest
way to wish you not only the happiest of holiday's but also to kindly
thank you for allowing us to share this special ministry with each of you.
See you in Church
Rev. Chuck
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