I remember Advent as a kid growing up in a parsonage in North Dallas. Our home would be full of decorations, especially Angels. Mom loved to put out angels at Christmas time. And of course, there was the tree. As grandparents and aunts and uncles sent presents, those got put under the tree right away, which was torture to me and my siblings. We would see those presents with our names on them just begging to be opened, but were told we had to wait until Christmas. “Do not open until Christmas!” However, I can remember a few times when mom and dad relented and let us each open one present before Christmas. It usually ended up being socks or underwear or a new shirt they wanted us to wear to church on Christmas Eve. But we got to open something before Christmas!

This last week of Advent I have been sharing with you some things that you should open before christmas. Today I urge you to open your mouth. Usually, you don’t have to be told to open your mouth this time of year. There are so many delicious goodies to eat we are doing so constantly. But I have something else in mind today as the Psalmist did:

Ps 51:15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.

Advent is a time to open your mouth to praise God for the blessings He has given you in this life, and in the promised blessing of life everlasting. Open your mouth to speak to God, who has already said something to all of us in His Word made flesh.

Hebrews 1:1–2 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son…

He wants you to respond to all He has said to you through Jesus. What better way to respond than to open your mouths to sing His praises!

Open your mouths to communicate with others. Wish them a Merry Christmas, and be sure to tell them why Christmas can be Merry – Jesus Christ was born to save.

And Christmas is a time for sharing memories. Not just having them, but sharing them. You may be like my family in that some of our Christmas traditions go back so far we are not even sure why we have them. Ever since I was a little kid, we have had oyster stew on Christmas Eve. No one seems to know why, other than that it was a tradition on the Mattil side that goes back for many generations. But there are other traditions that evoke specific memories. Some decorations have a story behind them, stories that are worth telling and sharing. On the first Christmas, the shepherds had a story to tell. After they had seen the angels and heard the announcement and gone to Bethlehem and seen the Savior with their own eyes, they had a story to tell.

Luke 2:17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child.

Do you think those shepherds just told that story one time and then forgot about it? Probably not. Can’t you see them sharing it over and over again, year after year? A story that good is worth telling over and over again. We need to open our mouths to share this Good News as well.

Open your mouths and sing! It’s one thing to listen to the songs of the season, a whole other thing to be a participant. The Christmas story is full of words of joy, some of which were expressed in song by Zechariah, Mary, Simeon, the angels. We repeat the sounding joy when we echo their songs by singing of the Christ child who came once and is coming again.

Open your mouth to say thank you. When you get all the other gifts at Christmas you thank those who give them to you. Don’t forget to thank the one who gave the first and best Christmas gift, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Advent has a purpose. We are reminded of our sin, our need for redemption and the great mystery of God providing that redemption in the wrapping of swaddling clothes. This season has again been a time to prepare and get ready, and it is has brought us to the threshold of celebrating again the birth of our Savior. Open your mouths to declare and sing and praise and thank God and tell others this wonderful news.