"What We Really Want"
#84-17Presented on The Lutheran Hour on December 25, 2016
By Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour
Copyright 2024 Lutheran Hour Ministries
Q&A MP3
Text: Galatians 4:4-5
"What We Really Want" #84-17
Presented on The Lutheran Hour on December 25, 2016
By Rev. Dr. Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour
Copyright 2016, Lutheran Hour Ministries
Text: Galatians 4:4-5-
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! On this day when the Christian world rejoices in the Redeemer Who has come to save us, we pray that all may see that Jesus is God's greatest Gift to a sinful world. God grant such a faith to us all. Amen.
If a person knows what to listen for, quite often on Christmas Day you can stick your head outside and hear what sounds like a great, rushing wind. That sound is the sigh of relief which comes from tens-of-thousands of faithful preachers who have successfully completed another Advent-Christmas mini-marathon of special and regular worship services. That sound is amplified by the tens-of-millions of parishioners, parents, and grandparents who have attended those services and have helped their little ones through the congregation's annual children's Christmas service.
In stark contrast to the collective sigh voiced by multitudes of believers, there can also be heard the cry of despair coming from the clerks and shopkeepers who, beginning tomorrow morning, will be accepting returns of unwanted Christmas presents. From the moment their place of business opens until the hour when it closes, they will be dealing with discontented and disappointed people who received a gift which was really, really wrong. Now we have all received gifts which were not the right color or quite the proper size... but I'm talking about gifts like... well the non-drinking alcoholic man in New Mexico who was given a fifth of whiskey; or the woman in Kentucky who received a subscription to a weight-loss program; or the overweight 60-year-old man in Arizona who received a rather revealing Speedo swimsuit. There is the Massachusetts wife who unwrapped an ironing board from the man who is now her ex-husband, and, my favorite, the California woman who received a book of etiquette from her overly-judgmental mother-in-law. There is not enough money in the world to make me deal with the angry hoards who will be returning their bad Christmas gifts.
All of which takes me to the theme of this Christmas Day Lutheran Hour message. I'd like to know, "What is the one thing you really would have liked to have received this year?" A few years ago, a young boy knew. His pre-Christmas epistle suggested, "Santa, last year you seemed to have trouble getting me my bicycle. Have you tried the Yellow Pages?" He wasn't alone. One 7-year-old girl, none-too-kindly, complained: "Santa, "I did not get what I wanted last year. My name is Penelope. I am still living in the same house as last year. I am in the same bedroom. The address on the house is clearly marked. Santa, let's get it right." What did you really want for Christmas? I hope you're not like the boy who requested, "My dear Santa, I want one of everything you've got!"
All that being said; the question remains, "This Christmas Day, what is the item which appears at the top of your list of longings?" A great many might echo the beauty pageant contestants who say the most important thing to them is "world peace."
This year I received a new type of card calling for 'peace on earth.' Inside these non-religious, politically-correct cards there were song verses, words, and poems which encouraged all of us, in a fortune cookie kind of style, to behave, be gentle, be kind, be caring, and compassionate. But that's as far as those cards went. These cards fell short of the mark as not one of them could tell us how to convert those lofty hopes, dreams, and desires into tangible peace on earth.
My friends, who among you would not agree this would be a most blessed Christmas if every threat of terrorism and all evidence of violence could be replaced by a permanent global peace among the world's peoples? This Christmas would be a most memorable holy day if all arms races would be finished; if all borders between countries became unnecessary, and the venomous rhetoric of hate-merchants fell only on deaf ears. If peace on earth is our heartfelt longing, let us take that dream even further and consider what a celebration day this would be if, within our own homes, a cease-fire on anger, arguments, and abuse could be acknowledged and a moratorium on disrespect and derision be declared. How blessed we would count ourselves if a truce could be achieved on all family conflicts and our homes become places where civility was customary and kindness was common-place.
If this Christmas Day you find yourself longing for peace on earth, I give thanks. You stand in good company. Since history began, gentle souls in every generation have prayed for peace and a time and place where they could live out their days undisturbed; which strikes me as being something curious. I wonder, "How is it that this great desire for peace has remained so illusive, so unreachable, so unattainable?"
Scripture supplies the answer. In the book of Jeremiah (17:9) God told the prophet to explain the human condition which robs us of peace on earth. It says, "The (human) heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?" In that verse, and there are many others which say the same, the Lord reminds us that, because of our sinful disobedience, we are flawed and broken. On a global level, a national level, a state level, a community level, a household level, our deceitful human hearts guarantee 'peace on earth' will always be, no matter how much we wish it to be otherwise, an impossible dream.
So what did you want most this Christmas? Perhaps, for you, peace on earth is too broad in scope. Is it possible you prefer to keep your heart's desire more reasonable? Is it possible you were looking to have that which is just enough to give you contentment? I hope you will excuse me for asking, "Do you have any idea how much stuff you will need to achieve contentment?" Understand, I'm not trying to be picky here, nor is the question meant as a put down. It's just that, well, I've taken a look at my own life and I can see some problems with the concept of having enough.
Let me explain. I'm 68 years old and I can remember the day my parents brought home our first 12-inch, black-and-white television. To see things from all over the world in the convenience of our living room was an unbelievable and overwhelming experience. We were happy; we were content... and we stayed happy and content until our neighbor brought home a color TV. Sure the color was a little purplish, but people looked, well, they almost looked like real people. One glance told us the black-and-white had to go. And it did. My parents scrimped and saved until there was a 21-inch, living-color RCA machine sitting in our living room. Contentment was king at the Klaushaus... until they started to market machines which had remote control. Who could have imagined? This modern miracle of technology changed channels and it raised and lowered the volume with the press of a button. That year a new Zenith TV sat near our Christmas tree and we were content. We had all the stuff we needed; until Sony came out with a 55-inch projection TV. We had to have it. And then we had to have a Sharp machine which had a flat screen and could be hung on the wall. And then we needed a bigger flat screen; and we needed a component sound system; and we needed a second TV for the family room. And, if the Lord grants me more time, I'm sure I'm going to need something else.
Well, that's my life. Pretty sad, isn't it? Short periods of contentment followed by longer segments of longing. Now, I wouldn't have been so open if I wasn't sure millions have made a similar journey. Like me, you have found contentment usually means having just a bit more than you happen to have. That rule applies to money, things, influence, prestige, power, security; you name it, most of us find our hearts longing for a bit more than we have. Contentment, we plan and plead for it; we pursue it, but just when it seems to be in our hands, it slips through like so much water. The Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes (5:10) sums it up this way: "Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income." And I could add, whoever receives gifts at Christmas, usually wants something else.
Once again we want to know "Why? Why is enough never enough?" Once again the answer is found in the heart. That's what Jesus said: (Luke 12:34 KJV) "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Those words are so true you can even reverse them. "Where your heart is, that is where your treasure also is." You see, the problem is this: the physical world can only promote physical things, transitory stuff. The problem with transitory stuff is the shiny wears off; the new fades; the thrill turns boring, and the valued soon becomes junk. And, if you think that statement is an exaggeration, I encourage you to look at the toys of last Christmas. How many must-have playthings received attention for a day or two and then were set aside, forgotten, and unwanted? It's proof this sinful, temporal world cannot give gifts which are perfect and eternal.
Which is why this Christmas Day, the Lord extends a special reminder to you who are still longing for a gift which won't be a disappointment or a letdown. In Psalm 37 your Creator says, "Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act" (Psalm 37:4-5). That's the Lord's way of saying, "Instead of endlessly searching in an imperfect world for a perfect gift, receive My ultimate Gift." He says, "Listen carefully to the words of my Christmas angels. What do they say? Do they not begin with an encouraging, 'Fear not'"? Now these words, which would be meaningless if they came from any other source, are made even bolder when the Lord explains, "In My Son I have reached out to sinful humankind in a way which can take away your fears."
The Lord says, "When the Holy Spirit grants you faith, you will receive a new heart, a new set of priorities and we will have a new relationship. Because of the transformation I will bring about, your once seemingly endless worries about finances, health, family, job, terrorists, WHATEVER, no longer will have the power to rule and run your life."
And if you wonder how the Lord is going to do this great thing which can render your fears powerless, the angels will tell you, "The Lord is giving you a Gift which is good news of great joy." Now you and I have received presents which were nice. We have received things which were special and most were appreciated, but when was the last time you received a gift which was good news of great joy? I'm talking about a gift which wasn't temporary or transient; a gift which transformed every aspect of your life. I'm talking about a gift which was so powerful in its scope that even the sadness which accompanies death and grave has been deflated. Believe it; God's good news of great joy is a Gift which is complete, permanent, and heart changing. God's good news of great joy is not wishful thinking or a fine, new philosophical approach to life. No, God's Gift is the ultimate Present: the birth of His Son, our Savior, Christ the Lord."
So let me ask again, 'What is it you really wanted this Christmas?" In Jesus, the Lord not only gives you what you should want, He also gives you what you need. Do you want love? That's not unusual. Young or old, rich or poor, it makes no difference; everybody wants to be loved. Unfortunately friends drift away; parents pass away, and those we trusted often are disloyal or deceive us. This Christmas do you need to be given love, then stand at the manger and see God's love made flesh. Jesus offers you a love which erases your sins and will lovingly correct you when you wander. God's gift of love is made stronger in your imperfection and more beautiful by your need. It is a love which will not be made weak by time and it will last for eternity.
Are there are other things you want this Christmas? Do you want to be safe and sound, content and secure? If you live long enough, you will find nothing this world offers can provide such a constant refuge. Governments come and go, companies close their doors, and marriages can grow feeble and fail. But Jesus will always be there. Do you want security? Look in the Bethlehem manger. Jesus had a secure position in heaven, yet He gave up that position to be your Savior. True man and true God, He left His heavenly home and the adoration of creation to give His life so all who follow Him might be saved.
Yes, look at the manger and see God's good Gift of great joy. Look, but do not stay there. If a Baby's birth were all we were celebrating today, our Christmas would be a sad thing indeed. Leave the manger and see the work of Jesus as He reached out in love to restore cripple and leper, to befriend those who had been possessed and outcast; to raise a dead daughter and son so they might be returned to their grieving parents. Leave the manger and listen to Him as He tells about God's love which has a special place for repentant sinners and can restore even the worst of transgressors. Leave the manger and stand at the cross where He offers His life for your eternity. Leave the manger and stand at the empty and open tomb and know that every promise Jesus has made, even the defeat of death, is a reality.
At the beginning of this Christmas message I shared a number of wish-list letters from children. I would like to share one more. It comes from a seven-year-old boy who wrote to Santa. This is what he said, "Dear Santa, you'd better bring my pony this year... or there will be consequences." There's a boy who has been disappointed with presents in the past; and if there is no change, you can be assured his life will be filled with such sadnesses. But, if He receives Jesus, God's good Gift of great joy, there will be a transformation. Remember the words of the Psalmist, "Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act." 2,000 years ago God acted to give us the Gift we should want, the Gift we really need. This Christmas Day He does the same; which is why I invite you to stand before the manger and believe in God's good Gift. See your Savior, Christ the Lord.
To that end if we can help you in that going and seeing, please, this Christmas Day, I invite you to call us at The Lutheran Hour. Amen.
Action in Ministry for December 25, 2016
Guest: Erin Bode and Syd Rodway
ANNOUNCER: You're listening to The Lutheran Hour and this is Action In Ministry. Pastor Gregory Seltz joins us now along with some special guests.
SELTZ: Thanks, Mark, and Merry Christmas everyone. This humble, little Baby in the Bethlehem manger is the King of Kings. He is the Lord of Lords, our One and only Savior, and that's why we celebrate and that's why today we sing.
ANNOUNCER: Christmas is not a silent night thanks to all the carols and songs Christians have sung all over the world for thousands of years. We've put together a music CD featuring Christmas music and songs from all of our international ministry centers. It's our gift to you when you go to lutheranhour.org and click on Action In Ministry. But right now we have another special musical gift for you.
SELTZ: Yes we do. Joining us is jazz vocalist artist Erin Bode and her husband, Syd Rodway. Erin, I've heard both of you perform. You bring such warmth to your music. I've heard it on Christmas Eve over at church. Music brings joy to the Christmas season and you're here to share some of that with us today, right?
BODE: Yes.
SELTZ: Thanks for being here both of you.
BODE: Thank you for having us.
SELTZ: All right. Tell us a little bit about the song that you have chosen to sing for us and how it speaks to you of the Christmas season.
BODE: Well, this might be one of the most famous of the Christmas carols ever written. It's Silent Night; but there are different versions of Silent Night as far as the words are concerned because it was originally written in German and translated a couple of different ways. My mother grew up in a little Norwegian Lutheran Synod in Minnesota and she received, on her confirmation day, a hymnal with many, many Lutheran hymns in it and their version in the little Norwegian Lutheran Synod of Silent Night is a slightly different translation.
SELTZ: The correct version.
BODE: I'm sure some would say so.
SELTZ: Oh, but it is beautiful.
BODE: It is beautiful and this is the version that we actually recorded on our Christmas CD that we put out several years ago and I've loved it ever since.
ANNOUNCER: And here is Erin Bode singing Holy Night, Peaceful Night accompanied on guitar by her husband, Syd Rodway.
BODE: Silent Night,
Holiest Night,
Guiding star, oh lend thy light
See the eastern Wise Men bring
Gifts and homage to our King.
Jesus the Savior is here.
Jesus the Savior is here.
Silent Night,
Holiest Night,
Wondrous star oh lend thy light.
With the angels let us sing
Hallelujahs to our King.
Jesus our Savior is here.
Jesus our Savior is here.
Jesus our Savior is here.
SELTZ: We can clap. It's great! Wow! Erin and Syd, that was great. I was resisting because my wife always says, "Let them sing. Don't sing with them!" I was trying really hard. I was being drawn in. I hope you guys were being drawn in too because that was beautiful!
ANNOUNCER: Yeah. Right!
SELTZ: Tell us...I know you're recording artists and you have all kinds of things. Tell us about your newest recording.
BODE: Yeah, we just put out an album back in May and it's a CD called Here and Now. It's a combination of great jazz standards by wonderful writers like Irving Berlin, and Jerome Kern, Frank Lesser, the Gershwins, and also included in the collection is some more contemporary, maybe you could say standards, by Paul Simon, Jackson Browne, Ricky Lee Jones, and Gerry Rafferty. So, we're just really, really proud of it and we can't wait to see the places we go with it.
ANNOUNCER: Great. Great. And where can listeners find your music?
BODE: You can get our music on our website: erinbody.com. You can order a CD or you can also purchase it on iTunes.
SELTZ: Well listen, what a joy you, Erin, and Syd with us today. Thank you for sharing your music, for making this Christmas Day a special, special day even more special. Thanks again.
BODE: Thank you for having us.
RODWAY: Thank you.
SELTZ: And that's our Action In Ministry segment today; to bless, to empower, and to strengthen your life in Christ for others.
LUTHERAN HOUR MAILBOX (Questions & Answers) for December 25, 2016
Topic: The Christmas Story
ANNOUNCER: It is Christmas Day. I'm Mark Eischer and, Pastor Klaus, a blessed Christmas to you and your family.
KLAUS: And a blessed Christmas to you and your family, old friend. And what shall we talk about today? Somehow discussing general questions on Christmas Day seems off-topic; let's do something different with the few minutes we have left.
ANNOUNCER: And we'll keep the Christmas theme going.
KLAUS: Mark, more than 50 years ago, Walter A. Maier, the first Lutheran Hour Speaker told how a college professor played a word-association game with his class. He gave them a word and they were to write down the first word that came into their minds.
ANNOUNCER: What was that word?
KLAUS: Christmas. And what do you suppose he got in response? His students wrote things like Christmas turkey, or Christmas cards, or Christmas carols, Christmas punch, Christmas parties, Christmas vacation, and, of course, Christmas presents.
ANNOUNCER: And no one wrote Savior?
KLAUS: That's right. None wrote Savior. None wrote Jesus. None wrote salvation.
ANNOUNCER: Those students would be in their late 70s or early 80s by now, but I don't suppose the decades have changed things all that much.
KLAUS: Yeah. The list of answers would probably be pretty much the same... that is, if a state school professor even dared to mention the idea of Christmas to any of his classes.
ANNOUNCER: So what can we do about that?
KLAUS: I think we need to let go of what we would do or say and let God once again tell us....the Christmas story. Paraphrasing the Apostle John, we could say, (1John 1:3-4 ESV) "that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ."
ANNOUNCER: And the Christmas story begins this way, according to St. Luke: Luke 2:1-20 (KJV) 1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
KLAUS: 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
ANNOUNCER: 6And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
KLAUS: 8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said to them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
ANNOUNCER: 12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye will find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."
KLAUS: 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now even go to Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known to us.
ANNOUNCER: 16And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
KLAUS: 17And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the sayings which were told them concerning this child. 18 And all they that heard it wondered at these things which were told them by the shepherds.
ANNOUNCER: 19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
KLAUS: Mark, those words begin the story that tells us "God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." We can't improve on that, so, my friend, a most blessed Christmas!
ANNOUNCER: And a blessed Christmas to all our listeners around the world. This has been a presentation of Lutheran Hour Ministries.
Music Selections for this program:
"A Mighty Fortress" arranged by Chris Bergmann. Used by permission.
"Come, Your Hearts and Voices Raising" From The Concordia Organist (© 2009 Concordia Publishing House)
"We Praise You, Jesus, at Your Birth" From The Concordia Organist (© 2009 Concordia Publishing House)
