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When I ponder Christmas, and this story that Jesus told in Matthew 25, well let me turn it a bit and say this first of all. If you find yourself in need, if you find yourself in "least of these" kind of way, Jesus is so close. This story is a Christmas word of hope to every person listening who feels helpless, hopeless or homeless. Jesus said, whenever you serve the least of these, you served me. If you find yourself today in a least of these kind of way, Jesus is so close. He identifies with you. He sees you. He knows you. He loves you.

But this story is also a challenge for all of us, even those of us who find ourselves in a "least of these" kind of way, to look for Jesus in face of those around us who are broken and in need. In fact I might say it like this, "Your neighbor in need might be the only Jesus you see this Christmas."

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Lee Stroebel shares a Christmas story that ends with this summary.

And at that moment, something inside of me wanted desperately to know this Jesus because, in a sense, I saw him in Perfecta and her granddaughters. They had peace despite poverty, while I had anxiety despite plenty; they knew the joy of generosity, while I only knew the loneliness of ambition; they looked heavenward for hope, while I only looked out for myself; they experienced the wonder of the spiritual, while I was shackled to the shallowness of the material and something made me long for what they had. Or, more accurately, for the One they knew.

In this episode, I'll tell their story, so that we can add to our Christmas prayer, "Come Lord Jesus and give me a heart like Grandma Perfecta!"

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Christmas is an invitation to thirsty people to come and drink. But it’s also an invitation to people who have found the living water to become life-givers. Both invitations are open to everyone, with only condition; you have to be thirsty. Are you thirsty for life? If so, where are you going to get full? Where are you going to satisfy your soul thirst?

My prayer for this Christmas is that we will discover that Jesus can and only Jesus can quench our soul-thirst!