Text: Micah 5:2-5

Topic: How God makes the far-from-perfect just perfect.

Introduction:

• Illustration: Williams tells an involved and humorous story about a formerly flawless Christmas pageant that becomes "perfect" through its foibles.
• God accepts our fumbling attempts at love and fairness, and covers them with grace.

Excellence is admirable; perfectionism isn't.

• Illustration: Thomas Gray wrote seventy-five drafts of a poem.
• Perfectionists would never begin a poem, because they know it could never be perfect.
• Jesus meant that we are to be perfect in our love.

- Matthew 5:48

• Christians are not perfect, but we can be forgiven.

The circumstances of Jesus' birth were far from perfect.

• The King of Kings was to be born in a stable in a seemingly insignificant town.

- Illustration: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was rated last of three hundred major cities by Money magazine.

• There was little to recommend Bethlehem of Judea, yet it was God's choice.

- Micah 5:2

God is looking for something more than "perfection."

• God didn't come to us at Christmas because we are perfect; he came because we needed him.
• Christmas is not about perfection; it's about love.

Conclusion:

• Illustration: Williams employs an extensive quotation from Harry Reasoner of "60 Minutes" about the appeal of Christmas.
• Perhaps your Christmas will be far better than perfect, a sacred event about love.