This is the last of the Christmas devotions. I hope they have been an encouragement to you this season.

Christians often talk about the Apostle Paul and his great mission works. No doubt he did great and mighty deeds. He carried the gospel into the world. Without his passion and energy the gospel may still be hidden to the world. We owe much to the Apostle Paul.

But, as great as Paul was, he is not the greatest missionary of all time. There is One Who is even greater. His name is Jesus. As we close out Christmas 2014 we have to examine this role of Jesus. If we don’t we will shortchange the whole reason for Christmas.

Jesus was not born so that the world could have a party. He did not come so we can give and receive gifts. He did not come so we can gather with family. He did not come so there could be a Santa. Jesus came to do the work of a missionary. He came to seek and to save the lost. He came to do the will of His Father. He came looking for the sick, the outcast, the hurting, the lonely, the unwanted. Jesus came to do the work of a missionary.

Just like modern day missionaries, Jesus left the comforts of home. He left heaven to live in a world that really did not want what He had to offer. He came to a world that had a totally different culture than heaven. He came to a world that was needy but did not know it was needy. He was willing to be a part of this culture and to live among the needy. He did not set himself apart from those He came to serve, but rather lived among them. He ate as they ate. He learned their language. He suffered with them. Jesus came to offer everlasting life and eternal blessings. He came as a missionary.

I was a Southern Baptist before I was a Christian. My parents raised me in a Southern Baptist Church. This does not make me good nor bad. No denomination can do that. But, one of the benefits of being raised as a Southern Baptist (and still one today) was my exposure to missions. My Mom served as Women’s Missionary Union director for many years. She saved her coins each week to give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. She prayed for missionaries. Though my Mom never set foot overseas, she still had an impact on international missions.

As I close out this series of Christmas devotions I want to do so with a challenge. Here is the challenge…make a decision to give to missions…both at home and abroad. We can’t separate the two. Jesus came for all. Give according to how you and your church/denomination gives. For us Southern Baptists we give annually by means of the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. This money is used to support some 4,000 missionaries serving around the world. Your church may use Faith Offering Pledges. If so, make plans now to set aside money for this offering. Maybe your church has its own missionaries. If so, give faithfully to them. However you do missions in your church… DO MISSIONS! Jesus came as a missionary so that all may hear. My friends, this is the reason that Jesus came. May we never lose sight of this great truth.

And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:40