Today’s Sermon in a Nutshell: St. Nicholas Day (Kids Sermon)

 

Today’s Sermon in a Nutshell:

St. Nicholas Day (Kids Sermon)

There is an old Arabic tale about a man who is traveling through the desert with his camel. Although it is very hot during the day, the desert gets extremely cold at night. So as the sun is setting, the man quickly sets up his tent, goes inside, and is warm and comfortable. However, as night wears on and it gets chillier outside, the camel approaches the tent and says, “It’s so cold out here, would you mind if I just stuck my nose into your tent to warm it up?”

The man is very obliging and says, “Of course not, be my guest.” So, the camel puts his nose inside the tent. After a little while, the camel says, “It’s still so cold, would you mind if I put my ears in as well?” The man replies, “Sure, go ahead,” and the camel puts his head into the tent.” 

Pretty soon the camel’s front legs are cold, and he asks if he can put his legs into the tent. The man allows him, but then the camel keeps asking for more and more of itself to enter the tent. First his hump, then his back leg, and finally his tail. Pretty soon the entire camel is inside the tent nice and warm, but because there is no room, the man is pushed out of the tent into the cold, freezing desert. 

God wants to reside in our hearts where it is nice and warm, but the Devil wants to get into your heart as well; for the Devil knows that if he can push his way in, he’ll push Jesus out. Therefore, just like the camel in the story, the Devil will not just come barging in, he’ll fool us by entering little by little – almost unperceptively. It could begin with a small lie here, a small lie there. Or taking something that does not belong to you. Perhaps using bad words or language. Not saying your prayers. Picking on others or making fun of them; and so forth. Then, before you know it, Satan has taken over our heart!

It is might seem difficult to say “no” to something we know is wrong when others around us are doing it, but Jesus expects us to be strong, to be an individual, be mature enough to always know the difference between right and wrong and choose wisely and correctly. If we don’t make the right choices in life, we are simply pushing Jesus out and letting the Devil in!

Fr. John