Rev. Seaton

Peace United Church of Christ
Loyal, OK
Leon Seaton, Pastor
Sunday, December 9, 2001

The Best Gift You Can Give
Your love in action is the most powerful gift that you can give.

Money not shared owns you. Time not shared cuts you off from society. Expecting others to please you makes you a tyrant.

Living out the love of God is the only way to please God and bless those around you. As Christmas approaches we need to be reminded that people need our loving care more than they need gifts from a store.

My memories of Christmas as a child focus on the smell of Mom’s kitchen and the joy around the Christmas tree BEFORE the gifts were opened. What about you… what are your most pleasant memories?

Hebrews 13:1-8

Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence,"The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Christmas is a wonderful time of the year – yet too often people set their expectations so high that they can never reach them… then bang! They feel down in the dumps and a beautiful holiday is ruined!

Today I want to challenge each of us to share ourselves in new ways with those around us. I guarantee that it won’t always be easy, but it will be rewarding!

The writer of Hebrews starts off this chapter by saying, “Keep on loving each other as brothers.” The New Living Translation states, “Continue to love each other with true Christian love.”

When extended families get together for special occasions there will be people from all walks of life. While some stayed on the farm others have gone off to a variety of professions. There will be people of all ages, shapes, sizes and attitudes. But because they are family, we love them!

Because we chose to love them, we accept them, even though they are different. Yes, some may have a few peculiar quirks about them… they may talk or act funny, but again, they are accepted! Why? Because we chose to love because they are family. We do not feel “responsible” for the way they act, so we just accept them… like they are.

God wants us to accept other Christians in the same way. One of Satan’s most successful tricks has been to get Christians in competition with each other. Yes, Christians may disagree with me. (They have a right to be wrong, don’t they?) But they are still “family.” They are responsible to God, not to you and me.

Love is more than tolerance. It is more than saying, “Hi, cousin.” Love is accepting a person and encouraging them to become a part of what you are.

The Shoes

My alarm went off, it was Sunday again;

I was tired, it was my one day to sleep in. But the guilt I'd have felt, the rest of the day, would have been too much, so I'd go; I'd pray.

I showered and shaved, adjusted suit and tie;
Got there and swung into a pew just in time.

Bowing my head in humble prayer, before I closed my eyes, I saw that the shoe of the man next to me, Was touching my own and I sighed.

With plenty of room on either side,
I thought, "Why do our soles have to touch?"

It bothered me so, he was glued to my shoe,

But it didn't seem to bother him much.

Then the prayer began: "Heavenly Father," omeone said, But I thought, "Does this man with the shoes have no pride?" They were dusty, worn, scratched end to end.

What's worse, there were holes on the side!
"Thank You for blessings," the prayer went on. The shoe man said a quiet "amen."
I tried to focus on the prayer, But my thoughts were on his shoes again.

Aren't we supposed to look our best when

Walking through that door? "Well, this certainly isn't it," I thought, Glancing toward the floor.

Then the prayer ended,
And the songs of praise began;
The shoe man was loud,
Sounding proud as he sang.

He lifted the rafters,
His hands raised high;
The Lord surely heard,
His voice from the sky.

Then the offering was passed,
What I threw in was steep;
The shoe man reached
Into his pockets, so deep.

And I tried to see
What he pulled out to put in;
Then I heard a soft "clink,"
As when silver hits tin.

The sermon bored me to tears
And it is no lie;
It was the same for the shoe man,
For tears fell from his eyes.

At the end of the service,
As the custom is here;
We must greet the visitors,
And show them good cheer.

But I was moved inside,
To want to meet this man;
So after the closing,
I shook his hand.

He was old, his skin dark,
His hair a mess;
I thanked him for coming,
For being our guest.

He said, "My name's Charlie,
Glad to meet you, my friend,"
And there were tears in his eyes
But he had a wide grin.

Let me explain," he said,
Wiping his eyes,
"I've been coming for months,
And you're the first to say, "Hi."

I know I don't look
Like all the rest;
But I always try
To look my best."

I polish my shoes,
Before my long walk;
But by the time I get here,
They're as dirty as chalk."

My heart fell to my knees,
But I held back my tears;
He continued, "And I must apologize,
For sitting so near."

But I know when I get here,
I must look a sight,
And I thought, if I touched you,
Our souls might unite."

I was silent for a moment,
Knowing anything I said;
Would pale in comparison,
So I spoke from my heart not my head.

"Oh, you've touched me," I said,
"And taught me, in part;
That the best of a man,
Is what's in his heart."

The rest, I thought,
This man will never know,
How thankful I am,
That he touched my soul!

-- Author Unknown

Hebrews 13:2 states, "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it."

James 2:25 talks about an Old Testament prostitute who gave refuge to the 12 spies when they were checking out the promised land. "In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?"

Matthew 25: 31-40

"When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left.

"Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed by My Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink. I was a stranger and you invited Me in, I needed clothes and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you came to visit Me.'

"Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? When did we see You a stranger and invite You in, or needing clothes and clothe You? When did we see You sick or in prison and go to visit You?'

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.' "

Hebrews 13:3 tells us to remember those who are in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners – and those who are mistreated as if we ourselves were suffering.

Or, as we read in Romans 12: 9-15

Love must be sincere.

Hate what is evil;

Cling to what is good.

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.

Honor one another above yourselves.

Never be lacking in zeal,

Keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

Be joyful in hope,

Patient in affliction, faithful in prayer

Share with God's people who are in need.

Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

Live in harmony with one another.

Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.

Do not be conceited.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil.

Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Did you probably notice that this is not a life of ease and luxury? Consider it an investment in heaven! We are talking about living as Christ did!

Liz Curtis Higgs is an author with a great sense of humor. She writes, “Being glad is a decision of my will, not an expression of my emotions.” Liz Curtis Higgs, Marriage Partnership

Christmas is weird. It's the only time of year when we love to sit in front of a dead tree and eat candy out of our socks.

My wife and I were discussing the “joy of Christmas.” She made an interesting observation. The Christmases she best remembers are the one ones where everything didn’t go just right… like the year her brother died of cancer on Christmas eve. There was not much joy that year – yet it was a memorable Christmas because we all tried so hard to help the children through the tragedy. We concluded that the essence of Christmas is in the true joy that comes from going all-out to be a blessing to someone else. It is love in action.

The spirit of materialism (getting lots of stuff) has all but destroyed the real joy of Christmas! It is tough to overcome because the kids go back to school and we go back to work and the question is always the same. What did you get for Christmas?

A better question is, “What did you do for Christmas?”

May I encourage giving yourself to God and others this year? Then you can feel a wonderful joy that no one or nothing can take away!

Please feel free to contact Pastor Leon by e-mail.
He will be pleased to hear from you!

Home Page

Credits: Photo, Leann Laubach. Gift, Microsoft Clipart.
E-mail graphic, unknown.