What are you sacrificing to Jesus this Christmas that costs you something?

What are you sacrificing giving to Jesus this Christmas that costs you something? 
That is what we think about as we come to communion—we hold a reminder of the price Christ paid for us! 

Bread--Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne #127 

We can use a hymn from this Christmas season ( #127) as s a prayer for making room for Christ in His special season. Listen to these precious words, and affirm for your life the response at the end of each stanza. 

1.    Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown when Thou camest to earth for me; but in Bethlehem’s home was there found no room for Thy holy nativity: O come to my heart, Lord Jesus, there is room in my heart for Thee.

2.    Heaven’s arches rang when the angels sang, proclaiming Thy royal degree; but of lowly birth didst Thou come to earth, and in greatest humility: O come to my heart, Lord Jesus, there is room in my heart for Thee.

3.    The foxes found rest, and the birds their nest in the shade of the forest tree; but Thy couch was the sod, O Thou Son of God, in the deserts of Galilee: O come to my heart, Lord Jesus, there is room in my heart for Thee.

4.    Thou camest, O Lord, with the living word that should set Thy people free; but with mocking scorn, and with crown of thorn, they bore Thee to Calvary: O come to my heart, Lord Jesus, there is room in my heart for Thee.

5.    When the heavens shall ring, and the angels sing, at Thy coming to victory, let Thy voice call me home, saying, “Yet there is room, there is room at My side for thee:” My heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus, When Thou comest and callest for me. 

Immediately—Present what you have to Him: The Wisemen brought prophetic gifts that pictured what Christ’s earthly work was all about. They brought what they had in their lives as wealthy rulers. And that is what God wanted, that is why He chose them. When God chose you it was not to bring their gifts but yours. Remember how the Lord accents the gifts of each individual. None are the same; all are precious to Him. Think through the people and gifts that God uses in His Word. Remember the little boy’s lunch that fed thousands? How about an anonymous person’s upper room that witnessed the Last Supper, the appearances of the Risen Christ, and the prayer meeting of Pentecost? Then there was the borrowing of an unbroken colt to carry the King of Kings as He rode to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. And who can ever forget the un-requested flask of perfume broken and spilled out just for love of Jesus.  

Present what you have to Him today. Give Him your mind—let Him fill it. Give Him your hands—let Him guide and use them. Give Him your future—let Him plan and direct your life. Give Him your treasures—He can store them and invest them in safe places that bring everlasting rewards. 

Cup--I Gave My Life for Thee #453

Collecting--Hallelujah What A Savior #175

Worshipfully—Offer your Worship Him: But more than the coming and giving there is the greatest moment of all--they came, they bowed, they opened their treasures and presented them to Him…but before all of that—they fell down and worshipped Him! Worship is a rare and easily lost atmosphere of devotion, adoration, sacrifice, and communion. Those Wisemen were overwhelmed at the sight of the One they came so far to see; the One they had waited so long to honor; the One they had paid so much to sacrifice their gifts upon—and when at last they saw Him they fell down and worshipped Him.

This Christmas why don’t you consider William Temple’s definition of worship. And while you are off the busy highway of life--measure your personal worship temperature. Here is what he said: “[Worship is] to quicken the conscience by the holiness of God, to feed the mind with the truth of God, to purge the imagination by the beauty of God, to open up the heart to the love of God, todevote the will to the purpose of God.”  

Candle lighting—Living for Jesus #372 



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