MINISTER’S MOMENT

"But when the right time came, God sent His Son who was born of a women and lived under the law." Galatians 4:4 "Christ had no sin, but God made Him become sin so that in Christ we could become right with God." II Cor. 5:21

T.L.C. network wasn't the first to come up with the idea of trading spaces, G.O.D. was! The main reason Jesus came to this world was so He could do some exchanging. Let this story illustrate this point:

William Spurling was big for his age, and a little slow mentally. But he was a good boy and all the kids liked him. When it came time for the

Christmas program to be presented, William wanted to be a shepherd, but the teacher thought that because of his size he would make a good rough Inn Keeper. William agreed and could hardly wait for the production.

The night of the play, things were going well... just as rehearsed. When

Mary & Joseph came to the inn seeking a room, they knocked on the door and William stepped out from the opening and harshly said, "There is no place for you to stay here!" Joseph spoke, "But my wife is tired and weary, and she's expecting a baby. Isn't there a small room somewhere we could rent from you?"

Once again with roughness in his voice, William said, "You'll have to go some place else, I have no more rooms in this inn!" Joseph pleaded one last time for a place to stay. "Please? He asked. This time there was a long pause. One of those pauses that's as embarrassing for the audience as it is for the cast. It seemed as though William had forgotten his next line! Behind the props you could hear the prompter saying, "No! Be gone! No! Be gone! Finally, with softness in his voice, William said,

"No... be gone." Joseph and Mary sadly turned to leave. But as they did, suddenly William regained his voice and said, "Wait a minute! You can stay in my room, and I'll sleep in the shed."

In the stunned silence that followed, the teacher thought the play was ruined.

But the more she thought about the words that this seventh grade boy had shared, she realized that he had just communicated the real truth of Christmas. "No, you can stay in my room, and I'll sleep in the shed."

Jesus came so that he could trade spaces with us! He was holy, pure, and in right standing with Father God. We were sinful, tainted, and separated from God. So he came! The relevance of Christmas is - God came to earth. The reason for Christmas is - we desperately needed what he came to give. The result of Christmas is - our circumstances can change.

Let the joy of knowing Jesus fill your heart this Christmas season!

Pastor Mike Waddle Crosspointe Fellowship Church