"Have You Seen Him?"

"Now when they had seen him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this child." (Luke 2:17)

The statement tenders a question: Have you seen Him? Certainly not with the natural eye... but, nevertheless,..... have you seen Him? Perhaps a better question is HOW do you see Him? “How" we see Him, determines how we respond to Him.

Once again, as we enter the Christmas season, the truth of God sending His Son, Jesus to be the Savior of the world, is all around us. Not everyone that sends cards, sings carols and gives gifts, sees Jesus as their Savior. Many believe in Jesus in the same way they believe in Abraham Lincoln or any other historical figure. Some see Him as a religious reformer of His day. Others view Him as a great prophet and teacher.

All across this world there are those who see Jesus as one way, among many ways to heaven. Multiplied thousands see Jesus and look to Him as a helper and a blesser, yet fail to see Him as Savior. The reason this is so crucial is that it's not our trust in Him as a helper, blesser or source of success that brings salvation, it is our faith and trust in Him as Savior-our trust in His shed blood as the payment of our sin. SO- the question remains...How do you see Him? I cannot answer for you, but I can tell you how I see Him. I see Him as Savior, Redeemer and the Ransom paid for my sins. I see Him as my Rock and my Refuge and the One in Whom I rest. I see Him as my Hope - my only Hope in this life and the life to come. I see Him as the One that loves me when I am right and loves me when I am wrong. I see Him as a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother and as my Very Present Help in time of need.

For every pastor, teacher, youth pastor and children’s pastor-our message must be clear: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life!”

After the shepherds had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this child. It is incumbent upon the Church to do no less. How this world needs us to make Him known! “Having a good service” must not be the mission of the church. Certainly, we pray and plan and prepare so that we can have a great service with an outpouring of the Holy Spirit…..but, that’s not our Mission. Our Mission is to make Him known.

As we enter this Christmas Season opportunities abound to make Him known. We must not become so consumed with preparing for Christmas that we miss opportunities to make Him known. May we be extra sensitive to the needs of people and the promptings of the Holy Spirit as we move through this very sacred season!