“Christmas Invitation”
Whew! Is anyone else breathing a sigh of relief? It’s finally here, the long-awaited day. I’m not referring to Christmas Day; I’m expressing some relief because Christmas Eve has finally arrived. This is a big day for folks who are leading and participating in Christmas Eve worship services. We’ve written, prayed, studied, read, and rehearsed. I’m ready. (You are, too…even if the nerves are trying to take over. You’ve got this!)
While many of us are planning to attend worship today, most of the population is not. Some who don’t attend services are shying away from the crowds due to pandemic concerns. This is a valid reason to not attend. However, most people will not be attending worship because they don’t know that today is different from any other day in their spiritual lives.
Those of us taking time to read a devotion probably know of the powerful experience a Christmas Eve worship service can deliver. So many others, however, don’t know what Christmas Eve can do for them. As Christians, this is our prime opportunity to invite folks to church. We don’t necessarily have to invite them to our own church, but we can help steer them in the right direction today, possibly giving them a gift that they’ll treasure forever. Even if they don’t want to attend in person because of obvious concerns, steer them to a Livestream. There’s plenty to choose from, but a Livestream from your church is a great option to offer them.
Christmas is about the giving and receiving of a personal invitation to receive the LORD. It would seem that everyone would understand it, but they don’t. It’s not their fault. They can’t love what they don’t know. We’ve been there. Today, let’s be intentional about spreading the Good News of Christmas.
This is the moment that God created for everyone! Invite someone to Christmas Eve!
“In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.” (Luke 2:1-6, NRSV).