You’ve probably noticed by now that the advent readings and the sermon’s themes this advent season have focused on hymns. For many of us, these hymns are rooted deep in our hearts and evoke all sorts of memories when we sing them. “Great is Thy Faithfulness” is Patrick and my marriage anthem as we sang it at our wedding. “How Great Thy Art” will forever be linked with William as we sang that song to him over and over as we cradled him as a baby. Jayna was not a fan of the singing, so there is no song attached to her infancy. Brennan’s song is “Rock of Ages” today’s sermon theme.

Today, I’d like to acknowledge something that typically gets glossed over when we celebrate and enjoy the light and love of Jesus coming as a baby. For some, perhaps many— Christmas is hard. It brings a sense of mourning and loss. Where do we turn when the joy of Christmas is overshadowed by pain? We go to Jesus.

Psalm 46 says God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble…
Isaiah 4:6 says There will be a booth for shade by day from the heat, and for a refuge and a shelter from the storm and rain…
Psalm 28:8 says But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress.

I could continue for quite some time with scriptural reference after reference…

The old hymn Rock of Ages states the same truth this way: “Rock of Ages cleft for me / Let me hide myself in Thee.” The beauty and truth behind this hymn is that it highlights our utter dependence on Christ for our salvation, sanctification, and our moment to moment: “Nothing in my hand I bring / Simply to the cross I cling.”

It’s ok for Christmas to be hard. Hide in Christ. He came as a baby and experienced the fullness of humanity for your sake and mine. He is not a far away God who rules at a distance. He offers an intimacy like no other. This is also a part of Christmas: Jesus –Immanuel, Jesus as man.

Father,
We thank you for sending Jesus although fully God to walk fully as a man. He understands our loss and he comforts us in our distress. We thank you for offering us a hiding place when all about us screams of glittering lights. You are our refuge and strength– and our ever present help. You are a good God, and the best of Friends– for that we praise you.

In Jesus Name,
Amen.

Those of us who walk in relationship with Jesus and have experienced His salvation have a story to tell. It may begin at different points in our lives, under a set of different circumstances and have had a range of impact, but the story is the same: “I was walking in darkness and saw a great light.”

Many of us have had our advent with Christ: the period in time in which we responded to the gift of salvation. As John 1 puts it: “ In Him was life, and the life was the light of men—” Christ is our light. My light. He’s a light worth sharing.

You have a light. Matthew 5 says, “You are the light of the world. A city set on the hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Telling our story is telling God’s story. In a couple of weeks, when we gather with our loved ones and friends, let’s be open to His leading and share when the opportunity arises. It only takes a bit of transparency and to be clued into the Holy Spirit’s leading. If you walk with Christ, you’ve got a story to tell. And whether they know it or not, others are desperate to hear and receive it.

The Light has come. He came as a baby. And he is coming again. We have no right to hide our lights under a basket: not when we are loved this well by a God this faithful.

I ask that you prayerfully consider who needs to hear your story. A three-fold prayer is highly effective: Lord, open a door, open a heart, and open my mouth.

Go tell it on the mountain, or in a card, phone call, or over a meal: Go tell it everywhere! Down in a lowly manager our humble Christ was born/ And brought us all salvation/ that blessed Christmas morn!

Father,
Help us to honor the gift of salvation we have received by sharing our light with others. Help us to understand the divine opportunity and responsibility you have given us when we were offered Your grace so freely. Help us to see like You do, and help us to love like You do. Help us to glory You by placing our light on a lampstand for all to see.

In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.