I can’t sing it but you know it. The song is, “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” The focus on Christmas for Christians, of course, is on the virgin birth of Jesus Christ and all that that represents in terms of the Son of God becoming flesh. That’s a rejoiceful time for sure.
We have the greatest sense of celebration around Christmas, that and Easter, making it meaningful knowing about the life, death, resurrection of Jesus Christ and His ascension. It’s also most wonderful time of year in terms of giving.
Each year I try to challenge you as Alabama Baptists just as to remind you that this is a season for Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. The Alabama Baptist goal is $12 million. That’s the amount given through the State Board of Missions for International Missions in the name of Lottie Moon, the matriarch of missions in Southern Baptist life.
This is a time, the most wonderful time of year, for us to be sacrificial and generous in our giving. And what I’d like for you to do when you think about Lottie Moon, this Christmas Offering, is to think about remote places in the world. Places we cannot even name, with people we cannot name, who are representing you and representing our Lord Jesus Christ. Proclaiming and sharing the gospel. For them every day of the year is the most wonderful time of the year because the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for them is important each and every day.
Keep that in mind Alabama Baptists, and I think we’ll have the most wonderful time of the year for you and for me. May I say to all of you, Merry Christmas. God bless you, and let’s have the largest Lottie Moon Christmas Offering we’ve ever had!
