The Shepherd’s Voice

Whiskers the Cat – I heard the reading today and it said – The Spirit of God is upon me –

Mac the Ferret – What’s a spirit?

Whiskers the Cat – A spirit is a little hard to understand. When you are having a birthday party everyone comes over to celebrate, right. During the party everyone is happy, having a good time, and we sometimes say there’s a spirit of happiness in the air. So a spirit is like a feeling, but it’s not a feeling – does that make sense?

Mac – NO! Is the Spirit of God alive? Will it hurt me? How do I know when the Spirit of God is upon me?

Whiskers the Cat – Pastor, help me out here.

Pastor – When God is at work in our hearts to do what’s right than we know that God’s Spirit is in us or upon us. In the Bible it tells us we are known by our actions. When we help another child who may need help that is an action that is pleasing to God. Gal 5:22 When we see that action in other people we know that God’s Spirit is at work in that person – our lives are a work of the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit or what God’s Spirit produces in our life is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, and faithfulness.

Rom 8:23-30 God’s Spirit also gives us courage as we struggle through life. When we are afraid, if we ask God for courage he will give it to us so we don’t have to be afraid any more.

So Whiskers what else does our Bible reading for today tell us about the Good News?

Whiskers the Cat – Part of the good news is that we are supposed to tell the oppressed that things are going to get better. God is going to help us in our life. God wants the oppressed to know that what’s coming up over the next couple of weeks is really good news.

Mac the Ferret – What’s oppressed?

Whiskers – You know when one of your buddies keep you from playing a game you want to play they might be oppressing you.

Mac the Ferret – You mean every time my teacher says put away those toys she oppressing me?

Whiskers – Well, not exactly. Oppression has to do with someone stopping you from doing something and they have a bad attitude about it. They’re mean when they talk. They’re not fair about how they treat you. They take away your freedom because they want to.

Mac the Ferret – Ok, so when my teacher tells me for the 2nd or 3rd time to put away the toys – then she is oppressing me?
Whiskers – No, no, when a teacher tells you to put away the toys it’s usually for a good reason. She wants you or the whole class to move on to the next activity, perhaps something fun or maybe she’s just trying to show you something new. Pastor – I’m starting to feel oppressed by all these questions.

Pastor – Well if you’re starting to feel oppressed than I have some very good news for you.

Mac – What do you mean you have good news for me?

Pastor – There was a man named John, remember he came by last week to talk to us during the children’s story.

Mac – Oh, I wasn’t here last week. I guess it’s not good to not come to church because you miss out on some of the exciting things going on each Sunday morning.

Pastor – That’s right. In this case John was in a time machine otherwise we wouldn’t have been able to talk to him because what we are talking about happened a very long time ago.

Mac – I get it, it was pretend.

Pastor – That’s right it was pretend, but what we are talking about today is not pretend, but it’s all about God reaching out to us his people with a gift, a present for each of us.

Mac – great I love presents, when do I get mine? Can I have it now, please, please….

Pastor – Well, the good news is it is a present, but not an object or a thing. This is something very special that only God can give you.

Mac – You’re oppressing me.

Pastor – You mean I’m depressing you.

Mac – Depressing, oppressing, repressing – it’s all the same. Where’s my present?

Pastor – Well, let me tell you a little more about this exciting present. Lot’s of people don’t want this present because they don’t know what joy and happiness it can bring into their life.

Mac – Somebody doesn’t want a present. They must not be very smart. Presents are good.

Pastor – Well in this case the present is very special – it’s called grace.

Mac – Pastor, I don’t want a girl as my present. I want a football, or a catcher’s mite or a motorcycle, yah, that’s it I want a motorcycle.

Pastor – A motorcycle – aren’t you a little young for a motorcycle?

Mac – Well, I can dream can’t I?

Pastor – let’s get back to the present I’m talking about – grace is not a girl. Grace is a blessing from God. Grace means God forgives us of all our sin, forgives our mistakes, forgives us even when we do wrong, and loves us no matter what.

Mac – OK – what’s a blessing?

Pastor – Well when John came he was talking to the people about someone else coming after him that was greater than he was. This person will help or bless all the people in the world. He will come as a baby who will be with us and protect us from oppressors.

Mac – A baby – I didn’t know my mom was going to have a baby. When is she going to have a baby? A baby – I’m going to have a new baby brother, wow that’s great. When is this baby coming?

Pastor – This baby has already been born and it’s not from your mother.

Mac – You mean I’m not going to have a new baby brother?

Pastor – That’s right. This baby came into the world over 2000 years ago, but we celebrate this baby’s birth each year at Christmas.

Mac – Let me get this straight – your going to give me a present, grace, but it’s not a girl doll, it’s a baby, but the baby is 2000 years old. How come it didn’t grow? Is the baby a little person? I have a friend who is a little person; some people think he’s a dwarf, but he’s not he’s just a little person. Is this little person called grace going to be here today?

Pastor – Hold it, hold it. I think you’re a little confused. Grace is not a person. The baby’s name is not grace it’s Jesus and the baby is here in Spirit, but not in the flesh. In about 10 days, on Christmas Eve, we will be celebrating Jesus’ birth. This is an exciting time because this was when God, the Spirit of all creation, came into the world in the form of a human baby. Remember I read a story about the nativity to you about a week ago. It was the story about Mary and Joseph who had to go to Bethlehem. Mary gave birth there and Jesus was born.

Mac – Oh I guess I wasn’t listening very carefully then. When do I get my motorcycle? Did you wrap it up? Will it be at home when I get there?

Pastor – Just forget about the present. Remember this – God came near, sent his Son to us in the form of a baby, and when that baby grew up he told us how we can be saved and go to heaven.

Mac – What’s a heaven?
THE END