Join the Party: Understanding the True Mission of Christmas
The Christmas season brings with it a unique opportunity—not just to celebrate, but to understand our purpose in God's grand mission. While the world commercializes this sacred time, we're invited to see beyond the tinsel and transactions to grasp what this moment truly represents: God's relentless pursuit of lost humanity and His invitation for us to join Him in celebration.
The Heart of the Mission
When Jesus came into the world, He made His mission crystal clear: "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." This wasn't a quiet, somber arrival. The angels announced it with glory. Shepherds rushed to witness it. And eventually, wise men traveled from distant lands to worship the newborn King. This was—and is—cause for celebration.
Yet we often miss the party happening right in front of us.
Think about it: God celebrates when the lost are found. In Luke 15, Jesus tells three powerful parables—the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son—and in each one, there's an unmistakable theme. When what was lost is found, there's rejoicing. Not just quiet relief, but full-blown celebration. "There is rejoicing in the presence of angels," Jesus declares, painting a picture of heaven erupting in joy over one sinner who repents.
God isn't sitting on His throne with a somber expression, reluctantly accepting our worship. He's celebrating. He's throwing a party. And He's inviting everyone to join Him.
The Pharisee Problem
But here's where it gets convicting. When Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners at Matthew's house, the Pharisees stood outside, arms crossed, faces pinched with disapproval. They saw the celebration but refused to join it. They saw Jesus welcoming the lost but couldn't understand why.
"How can you eat with these people?" they demanded.
Jesus' response cuts to the heart: "Go learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
The Pharisees missed the party because they didn't understand the mission. They were so focused on their religious performance, so convinced of their own righteousness, that they couldn't celebrate God's mercy toward others.
How often do we do the same? Do we stand outside the party, criticizing how others celebrate Christmas, complaining about commercialization, bah-humbugging the season—all while missing the opportunity to join God in His mission?
The Wise Men Got It
The story of the wise men offers a beautiful contrast. These weren't Jews waiting for the Messiah. They were likely from Persia, students of prophecy and Scripture, possibly influenced by Daniel's legacy during Israel's captivity. They studied. They watched. They waited.
And when they saw the star, they moved.
They didn't wait until everything was perfect. They didn't delay until it was more convenient. They packed their camels and started the journey, knowing it would take time, knowing it would cost them something.
Here's what's remarkable: the wise men didn't arrive at the manger. They came to a house, possibly two years after Jesus' birth. They missed the initial party—but they came anyway. And when they arrived, they didn't make excuses or complain about being late. They bowed down and worshiped.
They understood three critical truths:
First, they came for the right reasons. Unlike Herod, who wanted to find Jesus to destroy Him, the wise men came to worship. They humbled themselves before the King of Kings, bringing gifts appropriate to His worth—gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These weren't casual offerings. They were thoughtful, purposeful, given from hearts of faith and worship.
Second, they obeyed God rather than man. When warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they listened. They had to be tuned in to God's voice to hear Him. They knew God's Word well enough to recognize the fulfillment of prophecy. And they trusted Him enough to obey, even when it meant defying a powerful king.
Third, they understood the mission. Their gifts weren't just spiritually symbolic—they were practically useful. When Mary and Joseph had to flee to Egypt to escape Herod's murderous rage, those expensive gifts provided the resources they needed to survive. The wise men participated in God's mission both spiritually and practically.
Don't Wait, But It's Never Too Late
There's an urgency to this message. Don't wait to come to the party. Don't wait to give your life to Christ. You don't need to get everything right first—you'll never be good enough on your own. That's precisely why you need a Savior.
If you feel an empty spot in your soul, if something's missing, it's because you don't have Jesus. He's what you've been seeking. The world offers countless substitutes, but none of them satisfy. Jesus is the light of the world, the hope of glory, the life that is truly life.
But here's the beautiful truth: while urgency matters, it's never too late. The wise men arrived years after the angels and shepherds, but they still made it to the party. They still worshiped the King. The party was still going on.
The party is still going on today.
Joining the Mission
When we accept God's invitation, we don't just join the party—we join the mission. We become beggars showing other beggars where the food is. We become light-bearers in a dark world. We become ambassadors of the good news that God loves humanity so much He came to rescue us.
This Christmas season isn't just about remembering what happened over two thousand years ago. It's about participating in what's still happening now. God is still seeking and saving the lost. Heaven is still celebrating when one sinner repents. The party is still going strong.
The question is: Will you join it?
Will you come with joy rather than criticism? Will you worship with purpose rather than going through religious motions? Will you bring thoughtful, generous gifts given from a heart of faith? Will you tune your ear to hear God's voice and obey Him rather than the culture around you?
And perhaps most importantly: Will you invite others to the party?
Don't keep the food to yourself. Share the good news. Show people where hope is found. Point them to the light of the world. Join God in His mission to seek and save the lost.
The party is happening. The celebration continues. And you're invited—not as a spectator, but as a participant in the greatest mission ever undertaken: sharing the love of God with a world desperately in need of a Savior.
So this Christmas, don't just celebrate. Join the party. Join the mission. And do it with joy.
The Christmas season brings with it a unique opportunity—not just to celebrate, but to understand our purpose in God's grand mission. While the world commercializes this sacred time, we're invited to see beyond the tinsel and transactions to grasp what this moment truly represents: God's relentless pursuit of lost humanity and His invitation for us to join Him in celebration.
The Heart of the Mission
When Jesus came into the world, He made His mission crystal clear: "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." This wasn't a quiet, somber arrival. The angels announced it with glory. Shepherds rushed to witness it. And eventually, wise men traveled from distant lands to worship the newborn King. This was—and is—cause for celebration.
Yet we often miss the party happening right in front of us.
Think about it: God celebrates when the lost are found. In Luke 15, Jesus tells three powerful parables—the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son—and in each one, there's an unmistakable theme. When what was lost is found, there's rejoicing. Not just quiet relief, but full-blown celebration. "There is rejoicing in the presence of angels," Jesus declares, painting a picture of heaven erupting in joy over one sinner who repents.
God isn't sitting on His throne with a somber expression, reluctantly accepting our worship. He's celebrating. He's throwing a party. And He's inviting everyone to join Him.
The Pharisee Problem
But here's where it gets convicting. When Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners at Matthew's house, the Pharisees stood outside, arms crossed, faces pinched with disapproval. They saw the celebration but refused to join it. They saw Jesus welcoming the lost but couldn't understand why.
"How can you eat with these people?" they demanded.
Jesus' response cuts to the heart: "Go learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
The Pharisees missed the party because they didn't understand the mission. They were so focused on their religious performance, so convinced of their own righteousness, that they couldn't celebrate God's mercy toward others.
How often do we do the same? Do we stand outside the party, criticizing how others celebrate Christmas, complaining about commercialization, bah-humbugging the season—all while missing the opportunity to join God in His mission?
The Wise Men Got It
The story of the wise men offers a beautiful contrast. These weren't Jews waiting for the Messiah. They were likely from Persia, students of prophecy and Scripture, possibly influenced by Daniel's legacy during Israel's captivity. They studied. They watched. They waited.
And when they saw the star, they moved.
They didn't wait until everything was perfect. They didn't delay until it was more convenient. They packed their camels and started the journey, knowing it would take time, knowing it would cost them something.
Here's what's remarkable: the wise men didn't arrive at the manger. They came to a house, possibly two years after Jesus' birth. They missed the initial party—but they came anyway. And when they arrived, they didn't make excuses or complain about being late. They bowed down and worshiped.
They understood three critical truths:
First, they came for the right reasons. Unlike Herod, who wanted to find Jesus to destroy Him, the wise men came to worship. They humbled themselves before the King of Kings, bringing gifts appropriate to His worth—gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These weren't casual offerings. They were thoughtful, purposeful, given from hearts of faith and worship.
Second, they obeyed God rather than man. When warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they listened. They had to be tuned in to God's voice to hear Him. They knew God's Word well enough to recognize the fulfillment of prophecy. And they trusted Him enough to obey, even when it meant defying a powerful king.
Third, they understood the mission. Their gifts weren't just spiritually symbolic—they were practically useful. When Mary and Joseph had to flee to Egypt to escape Herod's murderous rage, those expensive gifts provided the resources they needed to survive. The wise men participated in God's mission both spiritually and practically.
Don't Wait, But It's Never Too Late
There's an urgency to this message. Don't wait to come to the party. Don't wait to give your life to Christ. You don't need to get everything right first—you'll never be good enough on your own. That's precisely why you need a Savior.
If you feel an empty spot in your soul, if something's missing, it's because you don't have Jesus. He's what you've been seeking. The world offers countless substitutes, but none of them satisfy. Jesus is the light of the world, the hope of glory, the life that is truly life.
But here's the beautiful truth: while urgency matters, it's never too late. The wise men arrived years after the angels and shepherds, but they still made it to the party. They still worshiped the King. The party was still going on.
The party is still going on today.
Joining the Mission
When we accept God's invitation, we don't just join the party—we join the mission. We become beggars showing other beggars where the food is. We become light-bearers in a dark world. We become ambassadors of the good news that God loves humanity so much He came to rescue us.
This Christmas season isn't just about remembering what happened over two thousand years ago. It's about participating in what's still happening now. God is still seeking and saving the lost. Heaven is still celebrating when one sinner repents. The party is still going strong.
The question is: Will you join it?
Will you come with joy rather than criticism? Will you worship with purpose rather than going through religious motions? Will you bring thoughtful, generous gifts given from a heart of faith? Will you tune your ear to hear God's voice and obey Him rather than the culture around you?
And perhaps most importantly: Will you invite others to the party?
Don't keep the food to yourself. Share the good news. Show people where hope is found. Point them to the light of the world. Join God in His mission to seek and save the lost.
The party is happening. The celebration continues. And you're invited—not as a spectator, but as a participant in the greatest mission ever undertaken: sharing the love of God with a world desperately in need of a Savior.
So this Christmas, don't just celebrate. Join the party. Join the mission. And do it with joy.
Melvin Vandiver
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