I went grocery shopping today, and outside the store was a man who looked like Mario — if his mustache and hair were about five times as big as normal. He was ringing the bell for the Salvation Army. I think the Salvation Army’s efforts at Christmas are great, but it’s easy to get a feeling of guilt when I walk by. Now I’m not a big fan of guilt trips, but I refuse to believe bell-ringers stand around in the cold in order to guilt people into throwing money at some anonymous cause.
Last year, I heard a guy named Wally on the radio talking about his experiences ringing the bell. He said people sometimes come by and drop in money, but they usually pretty much shun him. Maybe people are afraid that they will be harassed if they make eye contact.
Well, today I took a chance and smiled at Mario. He caught my eye behind his fuzzy ‘fro, and his face lit up. “You smiled at me!” he said. “Most people just ignore me.”
As Christians, we cannot be “most people.” Because we have died to sin and been raised with Christ, we are “new creations” (2 Corinthians 5:17). It only makes sense that we are to look completely different from the world in the way we live (Leviticus 20:26). Paul explains this more in depth in Ephesians 4:20-32:
“20 But that is not how you learned about the Messiah, 21 assuming you heard about Him and were taught by Him, because the truth is in Jesus. 22 You took off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires; 23 you are being renewed in the spirit of your minds; 24 you put on the new self, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth.
25 Since you put away lying, Speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, because we are members of one another. 26 Be angry and do not sin. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and don’t give the Devil an opportunity. 28 The thief must no longer steal. Instead, he must do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share with anyone in need. 29 No foul language is to come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear. 30 And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit. You were sealed by Him for the day of redemption. 31 All bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander must be removed from you, along with all malice. 32 And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.”
We can easily slip into letting our circumstances define our character. But in Christ, we are free to reject the impatience and anger that want to master us and instead choose to be patient and forgiving with others. We have the power to do so because Jesus, who was blameless, approached us this way even while we were His enemies. Jesus didn’t fight to be justified, but rather gave Himself up in innocence in order to restore the guilty to right relationship with Himself. Oh, how I long to adopt this attitude more!
The Christmas season is difficult and stressful for many, especially if you’re anywhere near a store. I’ve already failed at representing Christ multiple times this season, even when the Holy Spirit has urged me to “love my neighbor” (Leviticus 19:18) and reach out to a stranger. But it’s amazing how you can brighten someone’s day simply by smiling at someone, asking someone about his or her life while waiting in line, or even being a patient and courteous driver. What a way to cultivate the true Spirit of Christmas!
Jesus came in order to bring the kingdom of heaven to earth so that the people of the earth might be brought into the kingdom of heaven. Let’s continue His legacy this Christmas season.
