December 13th, 2022
The Upward Look, by Jon Forrest
Take Jesus With You
It was the day after Christmas at a church in San Francisco. Pastor Mike was looking at the nativity scene outside when he noticed the baby Jesus was missing from the figures.
Immediately, Pastor Mike turned towards the church to call the police. But as he was about to do so, he saw little Jimmy with a red wagon, and in the wagon was the figure of the little infant, Jesus.
Pastor Mike walked up to Jimmy and said, "Well, Jimmy, where did you get the little infant?"
Jimmy replied, "I got him from the church."
"And why did you take him?"
With a sheepish smile, Jimmy said, "Well, about a week before Christmas I prayed to little Lord Jesus. I told him if he would bring me a red wagon for Christmas, I would give him a ride around the block in it."
I love this little story because it makes me think of how so many of us tend to leave Jesus in the manger when he really wants you to take him with you everywhere you go. That baby didn’t stay in the manger. He grew up to make the greatest difference in the world every made by any human ever. He turned out to be the Savior of mankind everywhere. Even from the age of twelve he turned the religious world on its ear, confusing the greatest theologians of the day and showing us all what God really is like.
His death on the cross and resurrection from the tomb brought all of us the opportunity to have our sins forgiven and receive eternal life with God. Unfortunately the religion-oriented society tends to leave Jesus and the Jesus experience in specific locations: a baby in a manger, a salvation in the baptistry, the church in a building or salvation in heaven.
Like the boy with the wagon, Jesus wants you to take him with you. He wants to go with you to your home, to your job, to the grocery store, to your favorite places of entertainment, on vacation or anywhere you go. He wants to be the integral part of every area of your life.
When I was a youngster, our church concluded with a special song. It went like this:
Take the name of Jesus with you
Child of sorrow and of woe
It will joy and comfort give you
Take it then where’er you go
Precious name O how sweet
Hope of earth and joy of Heaven
Precious name O how sweet
Hope of earth and joy of Heaven
I love all of the Advent and Christmas activities we share at church, but the best thing we can do is take Jesus and His Name to the world around us so that he influences each part of our lives and can be passed on to others who do not know him. Load him up and let’s go!
Spreading His influence with you,
Jon
Take Jesus With You
It was the day after Christmas at a church in San Francisco. Pastor Mike was looking at the nativity scene outside when he noticed the baby Jesus was missing from the figures.
Immediately, Pastor Mike turned towards the church to call the police. But as he was about to do so, he saw little Jimmy with a red wagon, and in the wagon was the figure of the little infant, Jesus.
Pastor Mike walked up to Jimmy and said, "Well, Jimmy, where did you get the little infant?"
Jimmy replied, "I got him from the church."
"And why did you take him?"
With a sheepish smile, Jimmy said, "Well, about a week before Christmas I prayed to little Lord Jesus. I told him if he would bring me a red wagon for Christmas, I would give him a ride around the block in it."
I love this little story because it makes me think of how so many of us tend to leave Jesus in the manger when he really wants you to take him with you everywhere you go. That baby didn’t stay in the manger. He grew up to make the greatest difference in the world every made by any human ever. He turned out to be the Savior of mankind everywhere. Even from the age of twelve he turned the religious world on its ear, confusing the greatest theologians of the day and showing us all what God really is like.
His death on the cross and resurrection from the tomb brought all of us the opportunity to have our sins forgiven and receive eternal life with God. Unfortunately the religion-oriented society tends to leave Jesus and the Jesus experience in specific locations: a baby in a manger, a salvation in the baptistry, the church in a building or salvation in heaven.
Like the boy with the wagon, Jesus wants you to take him with you. He wants to go with you to your home, to your job, to the grocery store, to your favorite places of entertainment, on vacation or anywhere you go. He wants to be the integral part of every area of your life.
When I was a youngster, our church concluded with a special song. It went like this:
Take the name of Jesus with you
Child of sorrow and of woe
It will joy and comfort give you
Take it then where’er you go
Precious name O how sweet
Hope of earth and joy of Heaven
Precious name O how sweet
Hope of earth and joy of Heaven
I love all of the Advent and Christmas activities we share at church, but the best thing we can do is take Jesus and His Name to the world around us so that he influences each part of our lives and can be passed on to others who do not know him. Load him up and let’s go!
Spreading His influence with you,
Jon
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1 Comment
I love this! Thank you so much for sharing it with us!!!