Presence vs Presents

  Christmas is always a great time to gather with family and make memories.  Precisely for this reason, the season also brings remembrance for everyone that not all of our family is here with us anymore.  We remember how Papaw loved to bless the food and carve the ham.  We are reminded of Uncle John’s reading of the true Christmas story.  Then Mom’s wonderful Christmas cookies, that no one can ever match.  The many traditions of Christmas help us to remember times past, and to embed present events as lasting memories.

  At Christmas we often get gifts for those around us.  We spend considerable funds buying just the right gift, in addition to the time searching, wrapping, and delivering the gift.  It would be no surprise to say that ‘time’ is the most precious resource we have.  God has an appointed time set for our life, and then we will leave this life.  Whatever amount of hours and minutes we have, it is given for our choice of investing. 

  The events of the past few weeks and the memories of times past, should remind us of just how precious our time is on this Earth.  Each day we make choices of how to spend our time and resources.  Sometimes we choose to be alone, other time we spend at work, and still others with friends and acquaintances.  We should be exceedingly careful with how we choose to invest our time, and choose to invest the most of it with those we love.  

“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.” John 15:12-14

  The greatest fulfillment of this verse is Jesus’ sacrifice for our eternal life.  Yet when we consider the limited resources we have in this life, do we realize that each expenditure and hour given to someone is a precious gift, a sacrifice of our life.  We do the same when we give to missions, volunteer in ministry, and devote ourselves to a cause.  We choose those that we do not know, and give them part of ourselves.  It may seem counter-productive in taking time from our family and giving to others, but Jesus directed us to pray and love even our enemies, even as He did. 

 “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” Ephesians 5:1-2

Be sure to be very intentional in how you spend your time this Christmas, and every day.  Many people leave this life every day, never knowing that today was their last.  Invest your time well!

Message of the Gospel for Newtown

   It is hard for any of us to grasp the images and stories coming out of Newtown, Connecticut this weekend.  The many mass shootings which have occurred in recent years are evidence of the growing evil in our world.  While there has been evil on Earth since Satan tricked Eve in the Garden, it continues to grow, and will continue until the Lord returns.  The killing of small children seems to be a new level of evil by a sick individual.  How did we get here?

   We live in a day where God has let people go to their reprobate mind.  Should you need any evidence, consider the millions of abortions performed, the rash of movies and games depicting killings and war, sexual ads filling our TV and mail, increasing materialism, and a withdrawal from the church and its teachings.  Before thinking that there is nothing we can do, we can still shine the light of Jesus to all those around us.  The light of love will drive back the darkness of evil. 

   Our lives are filled with sickness and pain often, but Christmas has a way of putting these things behind, and bringing hope for the future.  As a Christmas card written by Bro Kelvin Edwards, who has been dealing with cancer treatments, said:

While the coming year may be uncertain, the future is not.  This year, maybe more than any year before, we cherish the opportunity to celebrate our Savior’s birth.  In our journey we have rediscovered that in those swaddling clothes there is more than just a baby; there is love, mercy, joy, hope, peace, salvation . . .a Savior, God!

As we talk with people this holiday, remind them of the Savior wrapped in swaddling clothes.  While our depictions of Jesus at Christmas are of the baby, He grows sinless, and dutifully goes to the cross for our sins.  All his life spreading His message that God loves us all despite of our sins.  Be ready to share this message for the hope we have within us.  Society needs to hear our message of the Gospel!

“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient ; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them” Romans 1:28-32

“But sanctify the Lord God d in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;” 1Peter 3:15

Proclaim 'Prince of Peace'

“By You I have been upheld from birth; You are He who took me out of my mother's womb. My praise shall be continually of You. I have become as a wonder to many, But You are my strong refuge. Let my mouth be filled with Your praise And with Your glory all the day. Do not cast me off in the time of old age; Do not forsake me when my strength fails.” Psalms 71:6-9

“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."  And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled." But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.” 1 Peter 3:12-16

A favorite movie of mine at Christmas is, “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”  I have always enjoyed the Peanuts cast and their lively fun and comedy, and who doesn’t like Snoopy?  Having already seen it this season, I can certainly identify with Charlie Brown’s exasperated plea, “Does anyone know what Christmas is really about?!”  So many people rushing around, worried about shopping, commercialism in full force . . .It can seem like the holiday season of family and love, has been replaced with sales and gifts purchased in a tired run.  I am always glad to see Linus step into the spotlight and say, “Yes Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about,”

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward all men.'" Luke 2:8-14

This is what we must do during Christmas, is point people to the true reason for the season, Jesus Christ.  What was once prominent in the community now can get odd looks and names, when Jesus is pointed out.  Yet as the scriptures above remind us, God is always with us, and is pleased to receive praise and glory from his children.  The prophets told Israel that the Lord would keep them despite the Assyrian and Babylonian reigns of terror, because He had chosen them and given His Word to them.  We still have his Word and promises.  We know there will be a remnant until the second coming (Romans 11:5.)  Let us not whisper, but proclaim ‘Merry Christmas’ from the ‘Prince of Peace!’

Spiritual Priority

“God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne. “Psalms 47:8

“But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, . . . Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:. . . And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Matthew 3:7-12

A familiar scene: It is Friday night, the office/job has deadlines fast approaching, a school recital is tonight, a review of the week reminds you that prayer has somehow slipped through the cracks, Saturday is your ‘date night,’ there is a broken doorknob at home, and the soup kitchen has called saying there is a shortage of workers this weekend . . .

Each aspect of this situation has its own partakers and hint of immediacy demanding your attention.  Choosing one activity, excludes each of the others (by design), delaying the completion and needed results. Is there any wonder that priorities are a constant struggle for us all?  Truly there are times that any of these situations are a crisis, trumping any other and making it impossible to postpone; yet many times it is only our perception of the situation and we miss out on other activities altogether unnecessarily.

God has his ways of realigning our priorities throughout life.  Disaster, calamity, life events, deaths, sickness, and others; have a way of reviving clarity in our mind.  Our reminder this week, confirms for us again that today is a gift and all that is promised (James 4:14-15).  All of the deeds done in our time on Earth have an immediate outcome, and then will also be judged at the Great Throne. Though it seems there are actions which are too insignificant to matter, the Bible teaches us that every idle word will be judged. We should live with intention, seeking the eternal value of our actions.

We learn from God, almost surprisingly, that God is still always at work.  He is still completing the work began in us.  We will certainly always have work to do, just as God is always at work.  God is infinite and all-sufficient, while we are not; our task is to complete all of our work here to the best of our ability and to his glory. 

As you complete your Christmas activities, please be sure to point people to the Light of the season, and be intentional who you spend your time with