Be Like Fred by Bryan Craig

The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.  As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:  whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:7-11 ESV

As the Holidays are upon us, I've been part of a few conversations in the past few weeks about people dreading it. Most of this stems from difficult family situations and tension. It seems most families have some element of this, because all families are made up of broken, sinful people, including me. I was with a group of men, and we were talking about how we can be leaders within our families... leaders of love, forgiveness, hospitality. We can't control others, but we can control what we do and our attitudes.

In the midst of this, I thought of one of my favorite Christmas stories... A Christmas Carol. Ebenezer Scrooge is a man who has been hardened by life and seems to hate everybody, including himself. He is visited by 3 Ghosts, spiritual beings, to help him gain some much-needed perspective on life.

I was also reading the story of the spiritual being who visited Mary to tell her about her coming encounter with Jesus, found in Luke 1:26-38.  The words penetrated me, as I believe they speak to the promise for all who will receive Jesus.  Listen to the words and see if they strike your heart like they did mine.

Greetings favored one.

The Lord is with you.

Do not be afraid.

You have found favor with God.

The Holy Spirit will come upon you.

The power of the Most High will overshadow you.

Nothing is impossible with God.

Jesus wants to come to us this Christmas as well.  He is with us.  He gives us favor.  He does not want us to be afraid.  He wants to pour His Spirit upon us to give us a new birth into a new life.  No matter how unworthy we may feel, nothing is impossible with God.  This describes an intimate, abiding relationship with Christ.

It is this abiding relationship that can help us minister to our families this Christmas and help us to be like Fred.  Who is Fred, you may say.  Back to A Christmas Carol… there is a great character in the story that can be missed.

Scrooge has one surviving relative, the son of his late sister Elizabeth, his nephew Fred. In the midst of Ebenezer's misery, joyful Fred bounds into his office. Despite Ebenezer's insults and ridicule, Fred, once again, invites Ebenezer to his house to celebrate Christmas. It is obvious that he does this each year. What love, what faith, what perseverance, what concern for a lost family member!

Little did Fred know that on this particular night, God would help Ebenezer see the Light. And Ebenezer would realize that Fred had been showing him the Light all along. The first place Ebenezer goes, after his awakening, is to be with his nephew, Fred, on Christmas Day.

So, if you are faced with a difficult situation in your family, whatever the case, Be Like Fred. Be loving, be inviting, be graceful, don't be easily offended. Whether you know it or not, God may be using your seeds of decency to help transform a heart.  And if you find this difficult, ask Jesus to visit you this Christmas.