Dr. Doug Shaw - blog
  • Blog
  • Subscribe to Blog

Taking to Heart

12/24/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
As believers, how can we truly make Jesus the true focus of Christmas?
 
“Let the whole earth sing to the Lord! Each day proclaim the good news that He saves. Publish His glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things He does,” 1 Chronicles 16:23-24 (NLT).
 
“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home,” Matthew 25:34-35 (NLT).
 
As followers of Christ, Christmas is that time of the year when we gather together to celebrate our Savior's birth and what it means to us. We spend time with family, partake in wonderful food and treats, hang ornaments on the tree and sing joyful carols commemorating the Lord's greatest gift--the birth of His Son and His promise of eternal life.
 
It's interesting to note that the way Christians celebrate Christmas is not so different from the way nonbelievers celebrate it. The Christmas season is an annual tradition for many people around the world, including those who don't know Jesus at all. It's a time when people from a variety of backgrounds take time to exchange gifts and share meals with family and friends. As believers, how can we make our celebrations even more meaningful and truly make Jesus the true focus of Christmas? What if we did what this host family did and welcome strangers as family? Ministry volunteers Pete and Kristina shared how they invited nine international students for Christmas Eve dinner:
 
“We went around the table and each shared who was the most influential person in their lives. This gave us a chance to hear a little bit about each of their backgrounds and history. We recognize the fact that each of them was a very long way from home and families. And we acknowledged that and told them we understood any sadness they might feel. We laughed, had serious times of reflection on some of the stories told, and each of our family got a chance to share a bit of our testimonies. They all have such different personalities and seem so totally thankful for food and time to gather together. We truly love sharing our home with these students. We've invited them again next year and we'll probably invite more if we can squeeze them in!”
 
Every year our ministry staff and friends are so blessed by the presence of the world's brightest international students, who travel here from all over the world—many from the 10/40 window. A great number of these students experience such memorable hospitality and love, and eventually meet the source of that LOVE. They undoubtedly return home on a decidedly different path.
 
Yes, Christmas is a time when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. But how much more meaningful it is when we share this celebration by taking to heart what Jesus asked of us by sharing our love and the Hope we have in Him with others.
 
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home,” Matthew 25:34-35 (NLT).
 
For More Information
Learn more about the exciting opportunities to share your faith with international students as an ISI volunteer.



subscribe to blog
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Subscribe

    Archives

    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly