As we approach the celebration of Christmas, I find myself reading and rereading the story of Jesus' birth. Today as I was reading once again the story of the Magi, something struck me. I had never really thought much about the role of the star. It was the star that signaled birth of the messiah. It was the star that led the wise men to Jesus. Were it not for the star, they never would have found Christ.
Did you know that you are meant to be someone's star? Every one of us has the opportunity to help someone find their way to Jesus. Every one of us is meant to play a key role in someone else's eternity. Remember that ultimately churches don't bring people to Christ. Neither do programs, marketing campaigns or special events. Any of these things can create a setting in which God can work, but in the end, it is people who lead other people to Christ.
Maybe you've never thought of yourself as a star, but you are. Each one of us has the opportunity to shine the light of Christ in a way they can lead others towards Jesus. It is really not as difficult as we sometimes think. It can be as easy as a statement, or a question, that leads to a spiritual conversation. Sometimes it is offering to pray for someone who's going through a difficult time. Sometimes it is simply exhibiting a heart of joy that leads others to want what we have, and to know what we know. For some it will be an act of kindness that displays the love of Christ in a way that draws others to him.
In a little over a week we will share in one of the most beautiful and moving services of the year, our Christmas Eve Candlelight service. This service is a wonderful opportunity for someone you know and love to hear the good news of Jesus. But it won't really be the service that leads them to Christ. It will be you. It will be the life you live that makes the claims of the Gospel believable. It will be your invitation that brings them to a place of being able to hear the story. And it will be your love and kindness that will shine the true light of Christ in a way that draws them near.
This Christmas, be the star that you were meant to be. Let the light of Christ shine from you in such a way that it helps to lead others towards Jesus.
I want to remind all of us that we will offer four Christmas Eve services at Rock Church this year. At 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. there will be services at our Plaistow campus. At 4:00 p.m. there will be services in Sandown and North Shore. It would help us to prepare if you would take a minute to let us know which service you and your family plan to attend. Follow this link to the signup genius and let us know. Christmas Eve will be our in-person services for the weekend. However we will offer an online service on Christmas Day every hour on the hour beginning at 9:00 a.m. at this link. Or you can see the rebroadcast on front page of our Rock Church website.
I pray you all have a blessed week. I look forward to us being together in worship this Sunday for our final Sunday of Advent.
Love you all,
Pastor Steve