MERRY CHRISTMAS 2014

Pastor Todd Christopherson
Mid American Stock Car Series
December 23, 2014

This is a special time of the year. Many of us look forward to this special time of year. It is not just the young ones. It is like all of us that are involved in racing look forward to the opening race and how special that is. There is a lot of work to get the car or truck ready and it seems whatever the date is for the first race there is a crunch to get things finished and ready to go racing. Matter of fact, if we are not careful we can be so busy that we miss the fun and the moment. We need to draw back and really look at what is going on around us and 1) be thankful and 2) really notice what’s important about the time of year whether that is the start of a race season or this time of year.

So please right now let’s stop and think about some of the important things of this season as we look at a few verses and share a few thoughts on them.

Luke 2:22-34a 22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”
33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them

First, verse 22-24, we see obedient parents trying to honor the LORD and follow the Law. As parents it is important that we remind our little ones and not so little ones that the focus of this time of year needs to be the LORD and not just this time of year but throughout the year we are to be attentive to the LORD. We need to take the lead in training up those around us in the Word and to have a hunger ourselves for the LORD and allow the Bible to speak into our lives.

Next, verse 25-27, we see a fanatic fan! Ok not quite the same. A man named Simeon was yearning to see the Christ and God had promised him he would. You have seen the fan that, well, is a little over the top. They really go nuts. Simeon showed that kind of passion for the LORD. How much do you yearn for the LORD? How much do you yearn to spend time with Him in prayer and in His Word? Can you imagine the hours Simeon spent that the Holy Spirit was upon him? This time of year we should be focused on Jesus as Simeon was.

Third, verse 28-32, think about the feelings, the emotion Simeon must have had as he took the babe in his arms. I see Simeon as one that was humble and had to be focused. He knew what he was looking for. Do you know what you are looking for? What are you focused on at this time of year? Is it the parties, the songs, the presents, the food, the “Christmas” movies, etc…? Can you block all those fun things out or will you get sucked into the culture? Have you been intentional in asking God to allow you to be fixed on the Lord, the Savior?

Finally, verse 33-34, tells of Simeon speaking to Jesus, holding Him knowing that this was the Promised One and then turning to Mary and Joseph and the four of them enjoying this moment of time that would be written down as part of history, forever remembered. That 2,000 years later we would remember this moment as the parents, Mary and Joseph, were going, “WOW” why would God choose us of all people. We see the humility of simple humans only special because God choose them. Then to have Simeon speak a blessing on to them – WOW again. (side note, several times I have written about the importance of writing and speaking a blessing into your children and others around you. I hope you are doing that but be careful and don’t go off to the other side of that ditch of saying something God does not intend you to say.)

This Christmas would you think of Simeon and be intentional?
1) Will you be intentional in reading the true Bible story of Christmas?
2) Will you share it with excitement, the same excitement as the children with Christmas?
3) Will you ask the LORD to bring a passion like Simeon for seeing and hearing from the LORD?
4) Will you be intentional in taking aside a loved one and blessing them?

Have a Merry Christmas!

Pastor Todd

Feel free to contact me at: torch_for_jesus@yahoo.com, 608-630-7301 or
512 Chippewa Court, DeForest, WI 53532