Years ago there was a TV show that began by saying, "Boldly going where no one has gone before."  Last week I went where far too many have gone - shopping.  Park Meadows was as packed and confusing as I expected.  After locating the Department store and asking directions twice, I finally located my electronics item - in the men's dept, of course.  I handed them the coupons and was informed those don't apply.  In fact, the half price only applied to the second if you bought two.  "Who would want to buy two at that price?" I thought as I walked away with neither.  After asking directions twice more I found the front door and went home.  Wal-Mart had what I wanted.

          All this reminds me of the woman who was out Christmas shopping with her children.  After enduring parking lot traffic and hours of toys and after hours of hearing her children beg for everything they saw, she finally made it to the store elevator.  Finally the elevator doors opened and the car was packed.  She pushed her way in, somehow getting in her kids and bags.  When the doors closed she said in a cranky voice, "Whoever started this whole Christmas thing should be strung up and shot."  From the back of the car a quiet, calm voice responded, "Don't worry.  We already crucified Him."

          How can you tell which people around you are Christians or not?  Christians don't dress differently and can be just as negative as the rest, and it's often the unbeliever who shows more faith.  So, can you pick a Christian out of a crowd of people?  Could any of us point out those who are believers and who are not?  Probably only if the crowd is doing something evil and someone in that crowd is objecting.  Objecting to evil is often a sign of Christianity.  So are "fish" decals on our cars or pins on our lapel, or Bibles on our work desk.  But usually it's only when people get to know us personally, they are able to tell if we're truly a believer or not.

          St. Paul in our text says a good way to identify Christians is by what they do.  He says, "Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

          One summer during college I worked at the Ford Motor plant in St. Paul, in the assembly line that produced car seats.  The men there were typical factory workers of the 1960's: gruff, foul-mouthed, smokers, always ready with a dirty joke.  But the first day I met Jim, I knew he was different.  Without even talking to him, I could tell he was a Christian, because of the things he said and the way he treated people.  Just by what he did, I knew he was not like all the rest.  I hadn't made it a policy to tell the guys I was going to be a pastor, but Jim had found out and one day took me aside and cautioned me against telling the others what my plans were.  "I don't want them resenting you," he said.  "You can talk to me about that, but otherwise, keep things to yourself."  And I did, whether it was right or not.  I kept my faith to myself very well that summer.  That's what a lot of us think we should do - keep our faith to ourselves, and keep the peace.

          The Christian life has certain markers, signs that show you are a believer.  Our text lists three: Rejoicing, Gentleness, Thankfulness.

          (1)  Rejoicing - The Christian life is marked by a certain joy.  It's the kind of joy that does not depend upon outward circumstances.  It's joy inside the heart that God gives us and the problems of life cannot take away.  We all certainly get "down" at times due to trouble or pain, but joy still remains.  Joy shows itself in our positive actions, our attitude of gratitude, our smile in the midst of tears.  This kind of joy looks for the good in others and the lesson in every trial.  It is not cynical or suspicious.  Rejoicing in the Lord comes from the heart, because the heart knows God's love.

          Dianne knew about joy.  When she was in her seventies, she had a leg amputated and couldn't live alone any more, and so was moved to the Castle Rock Care Center.  She struggled with phantom pains in her leg and one day asked me for a Bible she could read.  She always had a smile and attended our weekly service each Tuesday.  Despite pain and being away from home, she still was full of joy.  One day I was told she'd had a stroke and died a little later.  I miss her now each week, because no matter how alone she felt, or how bad her health was, she still had a smile for me.  I believe it was because she had the joy of the Lord in her heart.

          Where did Dianne's joy come from?  And how can we get it, especially during this time of year?  The key is to rejoice "in the Lord."  The Philippians didn't have it good.  They were being persecuted - seriously.  They faced trials from both state and church.  They knew about suffering, and yet Paul told them to rejoice!  Not because their lives were good, but because their relationship with God was good.  Rejoice "in the Lord" - their relationship with God made them able to rejoice.

          No matter what goes on this life, no matter how rough it gets, you and I can still rejoice in the Lord, for the Lord has saved us!  He has transferred you and me from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light!  He is enriching and blessing and guiding our lives every day.  And not only that - we have the promise of being with him for all eternity after this life is over!  That is more than reason enough to rejoice!  Nothing can come between us and our relationship with the Lord!  No matter what happens in this life, the blessings that come from knowing God now and from having the hope of heaven are yours.  And THAT is plenty reason to rejoice.

          (2)  Paul adds, "Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near."  Martin Luther said "Rejoice in the Lord" means finding our joy in God; "Let your gentleness be evident to all" is how we relate to each other.  We need a lot more gentleness in life than we have, but it must start with each one of us.  We can be gentle with people in the store, at work, in church, or in our homes.  It's easy during holidays to get snippy, impatient or demanding.  Now's the time for "peace on earth, good will towards all."  The Lord is nearer than we think, and a gentle attitude can do much more to show our faith than a demanding one.  In our driving, at our workplace and in school, we let our gentleness be made known to all, for the Lord born in Bethlehem's manger is near.

          (3)  Paul also says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."  Anxiety is a close enemy this time of year.  Worry about bills, frustration with job, concern about children, weariness from shopping, parties and writing cards all add to the weight of life.  Paul tells us not to be anxious, but thankful.  Perhaps fewer gifts would make fewer bills.  Fewer parties would make for better sleep.  Perhaps more of God and less of the world is what we need.  Anxiety comes to all, including believers, but believers know what to do with it.  We let the Lord have it.  He will put anxiety in its place, and He will give us a peace that passes all human understanding.

          How can you tell who is a Christian, and who is not?  Al was a believer, a nice guy who often shared his faith with his co-workers.  He often invited people to church and even gave away tracts about Jesus.  One day one of the guys there asked him something that would change him forever, "If you're such a good Christian, why do you have such a foul mouth?"  Al was stopped cold.  He did curse a lot.  Not at home, mind you, just at work.  He could cuss with the worst of them and never think a thing of it.  Al told me that he never forgot that conversation, for that was the day he stopped cursing, anywhere, anytime.  That was the day he put a cork in his foul mouth.  When someone called him to show his faith, he had to stop doing what was wrong.

          That's another mark of a Christian, accepting criticism and making the needed change.  That's what we call repentance - to stop sinning, ask for forgiveness, and start doing right.  John the Baptist preached repentance and gave the people great counsel - to stop sinning, ask for forgiveness, and start doing right.

          Christ the Savior gave His life that we might have eternal life.  He gave us the best gift that first Christmas - Himself, God in the flesh, God in the straw.  May we give others a good gift also - our faith about Jesus, our story of His love for us.  Amen

Copyright © 2003 by Pastor Bob Tasler.  All rights reserved.