My intention with this sermon was to encourage us to add thanksgiving and prayer to our Christmas lists; however, the sermon was really about a can opener.
Yes, you read that correctly: a can opener.
But first…
I have a candle that smells like heaven, but it was barely emitting light. The wick was top heavy and not burning properly. Needless to say, I got right on it. All is merry and bright now with the candle.
A song ran through my mind the whole time I was working on the candle.
Keep your lamps trimmed an burning,
…
for the time is drawing nigh.
This gospel spiritual comes from Luke 12: “Be ready for service and have your lamps lit.”
We must be ready for Christ, but we also must do the work of keeping ourselves “trimmed and burning” so we may be the light the world needs to see.
Matthew 5:14-16: “You are the light of the world. … In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”
Jesus said this to his disciples. I envision the disciples gathered close Jesus as he shared his wisdom. Can you imagine the love in Jesus’ voice when said this? Perhaps Jesus was sitting on a rock, leaning forward to get even closer to his friends, and saying YOU are the light of the world, let YOUR light shine before others, so that they may see YOUR good works and give glory to YOUR Father in heaven.
We can only let our light shine bright before others if we keep our lamps trimmed and burning.
Keep editing your Christmas list in order to keep watch for the true meaning and purpose of Christmas.
Paul opens his letter to the church in Philippi with thanksgiving and prayer.
So today we add thanksgiving and prayer to our Christmas lists.
We have much to be thankful for this season.
God surprised me this week when Molly and I shopped with one of our Christmas families. All we had left was the part of the budget that covered items for the household.
She needed utensils and chose a box set. As she was looking at the pictures of what was inside she wondered aloud if it came with a can opener. When she saw that there was one she literally fist-pumped the air in joy.
A can opener.
We have much to be thankful for. I don’t mean that we have much to be thankful for because we HAVE much. What I mean is that we have much to be thankful for because in that moment there was a bright spark of joy. For THAT we should be thankful.
In a season of waiting, watching, and wondering there is a lot of darkness. May the words of Jesus soak into you; YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.
we must keep your lamps trimmed and burning.
Amen.
AdventurouslyAuthentic 