The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Most preachers love the season of Christmas, for some it is the "most
wonderful time of the year." This time of year churches normally see a jump
in attendance from folks who are too busy to attend much of the year. For me
I don't quite feel that way. Now I'm glad that people come to church
anytime, but if it is only once or twice a year, that signals a deeper
problem.

It's kind of like this little story. It seems that a pious man, who had
reached the age of 106, suddenly stopped going to church. Alarmed by the old
fellow's absence after so many years of faithful attendance, the preacher
went to see him.

He found him in excellent health, so the preacher asked, "How come after all
these years we don't see you at services anymore?"

The old man lowered his voice. "I'll tell you, he whispered. "When I got to
be 90, I expected God to take me any day. But then I got to be 95, then
100, then 105 and now another year has gone by. So, I figured that God is
very busy and must've forgotten about me, and I don't want to remind Him!"

Why is it that some people only attend church on Christmas or Easter? Do
they think those times are more holy to God than the rest of the year? Do
they think being there for those two services will somehow put them in God's
good graces? Most likely it is because they did it as a child with their
families or even because of the Hallmark movies that remind them of the
importance God and Church.

It is just possible that some folks really don't want to draw attention to
themselves. Or perhaps they feel so badly about themselves that they can't
bear being in the presence of people they perceive as being better than
themselves.

Those of us who are struggling to serve God know that neither of those
ideas is right. Each and every one of us in our churches are sinners, saved
by the grace of God. We know and understand this and attend our churches on
a regular basis because we want the comfort of being with other people who
are just like us. People who are struggling in a world filled with sin.
That's why when we hear the words of Isaiah 9:6, it means so much more than
Christmas! Read the words again and determine you will be more than a once
or twice a year Christian. "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is
given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be
called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The
Prince of Peace."


f you remember that, it truly can be the most wonderful time of the year!

Russ Lawson