Whit Criswell: Stop, look and listen

Published 12:01 pm Friday, December 8, 2017

Is it possible to miss Christmas in America?

I mean even before Thanksgiving is over there is Christmas music and Christmas decorations in stores. We are flooded with Christmas advertisements every day. So is it possible to miss Christmas?

The answer is yes! 2017 years ago at the very first Christmas, people missed it.

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The innkeeper was too busy.

The religious leaders were indifferent and held on to their traditions.

King Herod was fearful.

And 2017 years later, people will miss Christmas for the same reasons: too busy, indifferent and afraid.

Let me give you three ways how to not to miss Christmas. It’s the same advice our parents and teachers gave us about crossing the street — stop, look and listen.

Stop

You can get so busy shopping and attending parties that you forget Christ at Christmas.

Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God.”

Instead of shopping so much, opening all your presents, eating all that food and watching all those ball games, attend worship services, read about the best Christmas ever in Matthew and Luke chapters 1 and 2.

Stop. Make time for Jesus.

Look

Honestly investigate who Jesus Christ is. King Herod even said, “Go and make a careful search for the child,” in Matthew 2:8.

It is amazing how many people go Christmas after Christmas and never take time to answer, who is this man Jesus?

Was He a mad man, a lunatic, a liar or was He who He said He was? Check it out.

I don’t understand our digestive system, but it won’t stop me from eating over Christmas. I don’t understand a garage door opener or TV remote control, but I still pull my car in the garage or watch TV.

So look. Investigate.

By the way, do you think it was a fairy tale that had a global influence on our calendar?

If you have done the looking and investigating and believe and trust the Lord, then over Christmas, look around you. There is a lot of grieving, hurting and needy people.

Be a giver of time, talents, treasures and your testimony. The rest of you, keep looking For Him!

Listen

Don’t be afraid of good news.

The angel said, “I bring you good news of great joy! A Savior has been born for you and He is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11).

People are afraid of the good news because people will make fun of them. They will think “my fun is over,” or “I’ll become a Suzie Self Righteous, or Billy Bible Thumper!”

Others let their pride say “No one is going to tell me what to do. I will do it my way,” and year after year never open their hearts to Jesus.

Suggestion to not miss Christmas: share the good news with someone.

Christmas is about celebrating birth of our Savior.

By the way, what gift are you giving to Him? How about your life?

God loves you so much and He’s calling your name.

Don’t miss Christmas in 2017. Stop, look and listen!

Merry CHRISTmas!

Whit Criswell is pastor of Cornerstone Christian Church. He can be reached at getfiredupwhit@gmail.com or 859-621-9012.