MISFITS... Sunday

Devotional for 12/13/15

At this time of year there are lots of Christmas specials.  Some of them are brand new movies, others are tried and true animated stories, like Frosty the Snowman, the Grinch Who Stole Christmas, and Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer.  We sometimes wonder what these specials have to do with the real meaning of Christmas.  Perhaps we just have to look a little deeper.  Let's look at the longest running Christmas TV special in history, Rudolph, as an example.

Rudolph was different from all the others around him. He was a "misfit", as was Hermey the elf who didn't like making toys but wanted to be a dentist.  So they decided to run away from their "normal" world and eventually tried to join other rejects on the island of misfit toys.  But the ruler of the island, a winged lion, told them they were not allowed to stay.  Only toys were allowed to stay there because living beings had to go back and be in their own societies.  By doing that they were able to help make their world a better place by helping others with their special gifts - the glowing nosed reindeer to shine the way through the Christmas snowstorm, and the elf to render the Abominable Snowman toothless and harmless.

Christians in a way are "misfits" in this world.  We are told we shouldn't hide from the world, but rather we should be "in the world but not of the world."  As faithful children of God we are sent to be witnesses in this world while avoiding "fitting in" with its sinful ways.  While none of us are perfect, with the help of the Holy Spirit we are to live according to God's will, following his commandments and producing good fruit to the best of our ability. 

And what about those poor misfit toys on that island? Well, because Rudolph went back home, he was able to lead the way for Santa's sleigh with his glowing red nose back to the island to rescue them and find them all loving homes.  In the same way we are to "be in the world, but not of the world" - so that we can be that faithful witness to others of God's love and goodness so they too can come "home" to Him.  So when we see a "misfit" in this world, we should remember that we are all "misfits" in some way, and help lead them to faith.

John 2:15-17 (NIV) "Do not love the world or anything in the world.  If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life - comes not from the Father but from the world.  The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever."

Dear Father in heaven, thank you for the gift of salvation through your Son, whose birth we are soon to celebrate. Help me to be a witness to this world without becoming a part of its sinfulness in my thoughts, words and deeds.  Help me to show others your loving and merciful forgiveness as I lead them to you and the Spirit brings them to faith.  May all the misfits in this world hear YOUR story at this Christmas time.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

written by Jan Andersen