The Reason For The Season

This is a phrase that Christians in the United States have used for years.  I think I heard it way back when I was a kid.  But do we really believe that?  It's another one of those phrases (like many Bible verses) that we have heard so many times that it doesn't impact us like it should.

Think about that phrase in conjunction with what what missionary Nate Saint wrote in his journal on December 18th:

 "As we have a high old time this Christmas, may we who know Christ hear the cry of the damned as they hurtle headlong into the Christ-less night without ever having a chance. May we be moved with compassion as our Lord was. May we shed tears of repentance for these we have failed to bring out of the darkness. Beyond the smiling scenes of Bethlehem, may we see the crushing agony of Golgotha. May God give us a new vision of His will concerning the lost and our responsibility." 

Twenty-one days later, Nate Saint died attempting to rescue some of those very people.  Convicting, isn't it?

On the elders agenda for 2012 is a look at our vision and what our focus as a church is to be. The lost will certainly be part of that discussion. We will also be praying a fairly specific prayer in regards to this as well.  More on that in the not too distant future.