Christmas is a global plan of missionary love.
I’m excited to be in the U.S. for Christmas! I love the season. I love the lights, the plays and carols, the parties and the food. Oh, the pies! (Don’t tell Beth how many goodies I eat.) Missionary kids who grow up elsewhere (Brazil in my case) dream of furloughs and grandparents, and all it means to be in the land of Hot Wheels for this wonderful season…
Yet I’m always growing in understanding of this amazing event. So easily I lose sight of the global plan of giving and grace that was in motion in that simple stable in Bethlehem. Indifference, our differences and distance between us were overcome as “the word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14, NKJV). The King of Kings Himself led the missionary plan to “move” and dwell in this sin-soiled planet, taking on “the very nature of a servant, and made in human likeness” (Phil. 2:7 NIV). And His example of leaving, crossing great boundaries and giving everything He had is still exemplified today by Foursquare missionaries that serve faithfully around the world.
As we celebrate and serve this week (whether giving Hot Wheels, dolls or pies), I pray my actions and yours would increase His “dwelling among us.”
May my indifference be overcome by the Holy Spirit as He opens my eyes to a harvest around me that I many times do not see, but for which He came and died.
May our differences be overcome as I seek to serve and bless people of different cultures, colors and customs who many times live within just a few miles of me.
May global distances be overcome as we engage the harvest in prayer and with our missionaries who are serving around the world in His name.
As you and I celebrate this week and we “play our best for the King,” be assured that He is smiling at you. Pa rum pum pum pum.
