When I think about this Christmas announcement to the shepherds and the Christmas story in general, it causes me to reflect and realize how many times in my life rejection or the fear of rejection has kept me from receiving a gift God wanted to give me. I don't like to admit that, because I would like to pretend as if everybody else was to blame for the things I didn't get in life or that I'm just waiting on the Lord for everything I've prayed for, but this Christmas in reflecting I thought a lot about how rejection… I'll break that down a little bit for you right now, but first let me tell you a story. On Christmas Eve, my grandmother on my dad's side would always come to see us with my uncle Russell.
Both of them are now in heaven. They both died within the last couple of years. I want to tell you about the last time I saw both of them.
They lived just about 200 yards apart on the same piece of land. My uncle called me to tell me he was sick and didn't have much time. He had kept it a secret.
He didn't tell anybody. I really loved this uncle, too. He was my cool uncle.
He didn't give me beer, or anything like that, when my dad wasn't looking, but he always had my back. When I called the DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince 1-900 hotline and ran up a $70 phone bill, he was the one to meet me out in the yard and let me know I was in trouble so I could prepare to go face my dad. He had my back.
So I went to see him, and it was really sad because he was already in the bed. "Why didn't you tell us sooner? We could have come and seen you sooner.
" He was a very private person. Going to see him with my mom, I figured while we were there we would get to see my grandmother, too, who was also pretty sick, but something weird happened. Y'all, I didn't want to tell this story at the start of my sermon because it's going to sound heavy, but it's all right to laugh, because it's kind of funny, and everybody's family is kind of crazy.
So don't feel bad laughing at this when I tell you, because it's kind of funny. We're sitting there with my uncle, and my grandmama calls. They pick up the phone.
We're sitting with my uncle, and I hear my grandmama on the phone while my uncle's girlfriend is sitting there. She says, "Hey, Grandmama. " They had tension in their relationship too, but she was calling because he was very sick and probably days away from dying.
She goes, "What are y'all doing? " Sandy says, "Well, Faith and Steven are here. " Grandmama goes, "Faith and Steven?
Oh, god! " Now I loved my grandmama. It's not like we had some horrible relationship.
Again, she would come every Christmas Eve. My grandmama was the one who would record the pay-per-view WrestleManias for me when I was a boy, so I owe her a great debt of gratitude, love, and honor. Anyway, she said, "Faith and Steven?
Oh, god! " Then she went, "Are they coming over here? " She didn't know we could hear her.
Sandy said, "I don't know, Grandmama. " Grandmama went, "God, I hope not! " I know.
It's kind of like, "Heh, heh, heh. Great for Pastor Steven. " It was the weirdest thing.
We didn't go see her, and I never saw her again. I don't know that I regret that, necessarily, because it was pretty obvious we weren't wanted. You know, my mom said something, and I fact checked this with her this week to make sure she actually said it.
When we were driving away, we were like, "Wasn't that crazy that we were like these unwanted aliens invading and she didn't want to see us? " My mom went, "Well, maybe it wasn't that she didn't want to see us; maybe she didn't want us to see her in that state and the house in that state. " She had raised one of her son's daughters, and then those kids were there, so the house was always a mess.
Maybe she wasn't rejecting us. Maybe she was protecting herself from being seen by us. The reason I mention that, as embarrassing as the story is and as awkward as it is… Merry Christmas, everybody.
Here's a heart-wrenching Christmas story to warm your spirits. We'll put some hot cocoa in the Communion cups at Christmas Eve and make it up to you or something like that. The reason I share it is it made me realize that a lot of times we reject blessings in our lives because we don't accept the messes that come with them.
What I love about Luke, chapter 2, and the way God comes to earth in the form of a baby born in a barn in Bethlehem is it lets me know God is very comfortable stepping into my mess. I want to say to somebody today whose life is a mess going into this holiday season… House is a mess. Mind is a mess.
Marriage is a mess. Money is a mess. If I look long enough, I'll find a mess.
Don't make me get up under the bed. I'll open the doors in the closet in the room you don't let anybody in. Everybody in here has a mess.
I think one of the greatest sins of the church is the "cutification" of Christmas. (I made that word up. ) Little baby Jesus.
You know, babies are only cute when you're waving at them. They're chaotic if you're raising them. I'm going to say it again.
Babies are cute when you wave… "Oh, look. That baby is so cute. " But when you're raising them… Jesus Christ the baby becomes the perfect symbol of Christmas because it teaches us that God is comfortable in our chaos.
So, don't wait until you get it all together to invite God in. Don't be like Grandmama and think, "Well, if they saw how I was living…" The beauty of the incarnation of Jesus Christ is (Romans 5:8) while we were still sinners Christ died for us, and while we were in our lowly state he came. Notice where he came.
He came in a field to the shepherds. It reminds me that God can reach me wherever I am. Let's get that confession going.
Say it out loud. "God can reach me wherever I am. " This is why we sing the Christmas carol "I've got friends in low places.
" This season you have some expectations for great moments and peaceful moments and wonderful reunions and wonderful gifts and all of that, but if you really want to have a blessed Christmas season, might I give you some unspiritual-sounding advice. Lower your expectations. Set your expectations low.
You're like, "But no. The Bible said, 'Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy. '" In that sense, we expect blessings to come into our lives.
How many are expecting God to bless you before the year is over in a brand new, beautiful way? Well, don't be shy about it. You're not going to get it like that.
Little timid Christian. How many are expecting God to bless you? Yeah, I am.
Of course I am. I'm expecting for him to show up and provide for me. I'm expecting for him to see me through with his peace.
I'm expecting for him to create moments I'll remember. I'm expecting him to visit in my life. God promised, first, he will reach you.
Notice the angels came to the shepherds. The reason I mentioned Saint Garth Brooks is because… Look at this verse. You've never seen this before in the Christmas story.
It said, "And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them…" You missed it. While we're so busy looking for God to come from up here, from a high experience… The angel of the Lord came upon them. The Bible says, "And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them…" So, if you're looking for God in your life right now, looking for provision and protection in your life right now, I have a piece of advice: look low.
Imagine heaven wanting to get the word out that the Savior of the world is born, so heaven puts together an advertising agency, a marketing team. "We've got to get the word out and let everybody know that the Savior is born, that the one who was prophesied is coming, that the one who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah is here right now. 'Today is born to you in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
' Who will we assemble to be the influencers who will spread this heavenly message? " So, God looks at Silicon Valley and finds some tech start-up billionaires, but he can't give them the message because they're too high for it. God looks at somebody else who has a perfect standing in society, some socialite who is accepted by all, who has entry into every environment, but he can't give them the message because they're too high for it.
God puts together a search committee. "We need to give somebody the message that the Savior is born, and we can't find anybody except these shepherds. " You have to understand something about the shepherds.
The shepherds were the lowest people in the society of the day. So, when God got ready to give the highest announcement, he picked the lowest people to give the highest announcement. I wonder, is he looking for somebody today who has been really low because he wants to show you something?
I had to learn that the Lord looks low. Did you know that? The Lord looks low.
Jesus said, "I am lowly in heart. " For all of those who are in a spiritual low today, he's looking for you. Tell your neighbor in case they're going through.
Say, "He's looking for you. " "Hey, angels, over here. We're important.
" "No, I'm not looking for you. " "Hey, angels, over here. I'm really smart.
" "I'm not looking for you. " "Hey, angels, over here. I'm accepted by everybody.
" "I'm not looking for you. I'm looking for a low person. " You say, "Well, does that mean if my life is going well God won't bless me?
" It doesn't mean that at all. It just means the only reason your life is going well is he reached down when you were low. Some of us have forgotten.
I'm going to give you 23 seconds to remember how he reached down low, how you didn't deserve for him to answer your prayer, how you had to pray for him to get you out of a situation that you got yourself into. He reached down low. He reached way down low.
The Bible said, "Lo, the angel of the Lord…" I've got a friend in low places. That encouraged me. Look for God in the lows over the next 20 days.
Look for the lessons he wants you to learn in the lows. After all, if he chose lowly shepherds to reveal his Son to, maybe he will choose your low moment to reveal the greatest lessons of your life.
