I have a friend who serves as a pastor of an American Baptist church in the state of Michigan. A few years ago, he shared with me a unique activity they have during the Advent season, a Christmas Eve service. You might say, “What is so unique about a church having a Christmas Eve service?” Before Thanksgiving arrives, my friend begins to challenge his congregation to consider an area of ministry within the city where every person might serve on the night of Christmas Eve. A large majority of their church enters their community that holy night to compassionately serve the people of their city in the name of Jesus Christ, the newborn King. It is truly a Christmas Eve service!
One of the five core principles of Nazarene Discipleship International (NDI) is compassionate outreach. This principle recognizes that the discipleship journey includes the desire and action to compassionately reach out to people who do not yet know or follow Christ. If we are going to make disciples in the nations, we must start by reaching the lost.
There are few times in the Christian calendar that speak more clearly into this core principle than the Advent season. The Christmas season is a great time for compassionate service, empowered by the Spirit of Christ, for the purpose of sharing the best news ever for the world.
I love the way Dr. Eugene Peterson translated the familiar passage of John 1:14 — “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish” (The Message). God “became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.” Christ lived right here, among us, in our “neighborhood.” The action of moving in was so very natural for the Son, because the action came from the heart of the Father. Jesus was just like his Dad. The incarnation (God taking on flesh) was an act of generosity that humanity had never seen, so very compassionate to our greatest need.
As we celebrate the Advent season in our churches and homes this year, consider how you might “move into your neighborhood” for the sake of the gospel. Remember, children of God should naturally take on the resemblance of the family, like Father like son and daughter. So let’s join Jesus in the neighborhood with an act of compassionate love coupled together with the Word of Truth.
