My Christmas List by Ps Jim Jung

Beginning in late November my family begin asking me the question “…so what do you want for Christmas?” They tell me that I’m very hard to buy for! I baulk at requesting a new electronic gadget, or a new set of fuzzy dice for the car. Some would perhaps think that as a pastor I should probably be asking for a new biblical lexicon or bible translation! I’m always assured though that they’ll work it out and on the day I’m completely blessed by their thoughtfulness.

It got me thinking, if you wanted to gift me something as your pastor for Christmas what would I request? As I pondered a possible endless list, I settled for these three things:

1.     That you make it real

Being a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ, is more than a religious observation. It is a choice that totally affects our lifestyle. It’s a belief system, a worldview that affects every decision, behaviour, and thought process. The bible calls it a transformation.

Without that biblical level of transformation it is impossible to successfully and consistently carry out what Jesus saw as a basic requirement when he confirms that we should:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind”; and, “Love your neighbour as yourself.” (Luke 10:27 NIV)

When God decided to send Jesus it wasn’t a decision made on a whim or a hunch. It was incredibly intentional with 100% dedication to the outcome it would provide. His commitment to you was completely backed by the quality of what He gave. His love was the real deal. Totally genuine.

When I travel to Vietnam I have the opportunity to visit some of the local markets. They sell everything you could imagine at incredibly cheap prices. Whenever I ask the question “…is this genuine?” their world renowned response is “…same same but different”. Which basically means it’s fake!

One of my three requested gifts from you would be to not allow a “same same but different” form of Christianity to draw you away from the real deal. Like the fake merchandise we might buy in a foreign market – it won’t last. It looks good for a time but it will never meet the expectations and durability of the genuine article. If you need to, ask Jesus to help you walk in a way that makes it real. My second gift request would be that you:

2.     Engage in ministry with us

Being engaged in ministry with us is so much more than simply attending church services. That’s a great starting place. In fact, church services are meant to be places of celebration, instruction, encouragement and support. They are meant to be the place where we are launched out to be ministers and missionaries to our communities. We do that as parents, teachers, factory workers and technicians, along with a myriad other trades and professions.

Our responsibility is to engage our faith with the community/society in which we interact. Jesus actually commissions each of us to be the “salt of the earth [and]…the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:13,14).

I couldn’t think of a more impactful gift this Christmas than to have you commit to engaging in an area of ministry with us that will see people lifted out of poverty; the isolated brought into a caring family; Christian values presented to those who are searching; all through the gifts that already lay within your life. No training required simply dedication to use and improve what you already have! My final gift request is:

3.     That you keep going

Some of the deepest sobs that come from my spirit emerge when I see people simply give up. They walk away from the Lover of their souls because of the challenges and trials they face. For some it is a catastrophic situation that causes them to walk away, for others it’s like they’ve allowed a spiritual erosion to slowly bring decay to their faith that causes them to simply drift out to sea.

The big picture story of Christmas is Immanuel – God is with us. No matter where we are. Even to the end of the age. In hardship – He is with us. In joy – He is with us. In loneliness – He is with us. In dismay – He is with us. We all face challenges, trials and disappointments but some of our greatest and deepest maturing will occur on the battlefield of life. We are not alone. We are never alone. Christmas declares Immanuel – God is with us. And Emmanuel is calling you to keep going forward.

My selection of possible Christmas gifts could be easily added to. But I recognise that if only these three gifts were evident throughout the coming years in this community that many more people will be sitting here amongst us because of them.