The Reason For The Season.....

Thanksgiving is over and the Christmas Season has officially begun.  Have you noticed that every year Christmas gets more and more commercialized.  It breaks my heart to hear all of the news stories about people being trampled, punched and even pepper sprayed in the frenzy of what is now called Black Friday.  People waiting in lines for hours push their way in just so they can be the first to get the best deals.  Has the celebration of our Savior’s birth become a secular “holiday”?  Is it all about the presents???

I asked my grandson (he’s 7)  today if he knew why we celebrate Christmas and sadly he said “no”.  I explained to him that Christmas is the celebration of the birth of the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ.  He asked “why do we get presents?”  (Now that’s a good question.)  I explained about the three kings and that giving gifts is our way of showing our thanks to Jesus for saving us.  It’s sad but so many children today are growing up thinking that Christmas is just a holiday for Santa and presents just like Halloween is a holiday for costumes and candy. 

So, as we gear up for the giving and getting of gifts I pray that we all remember the precious baby that grew up to be Messiah; The perfect, sinless Man who gave His life a ransom for our sins. 

He lived, He died, He lives!

Scripture

See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name Him Immanuel , which is translated "God is with us."  Matthew 1:23

She will give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins."  Matthew 1:21

Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  Matthew 2:11

His Kingdom Come...

Why are so many Christians uncomfortable talking about end-times?  As Christians we believe that our Savior was born of a virgin, He was crucified on a cross and He rose on the third day.  We celebrate His birth and His resurrection every year with joy and gladness. What is it about His return that makes so many Christians uneasy?  We should be anticipating His return.  So why do many Christians get that deer in the headlights look when other Christians start talking about the end of time as recorded in the book or Revelation?

It could be that they have not yet reconciled the fact that a loving God will judge the entire earth and every single person who has ever lived will live for eternity in either heaven or hell solely based on their faith or unbelief in Jesus Christ.  Or maybe they’re not sure if they have salvation.  The unknown can be scary.  But if you’re a child of the Living God than your future isn’t unknown it’s just the opposite.  It’s certain.  You will live for eternity in heaven with the Creator of the universe – The One True God. 

Believing that Christ is the Son of God and that some day He will return to set up His Kingdom with His saints (you and I) should excite us not scare us.  We should be telling everyone we can about the redeeming love of Jesus Christ.  The prophesies written in Revelation should not scare us.  They should motivate us to reach others with the message of the gospel before it’s too late. 

Scripture

Jesus said. “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die” John 11:25–26.

Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.”  Matthew 22:37–38

But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.  1 Corinthians 8:3

Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.  Revelation 1:3

Guilt, Shame and regret keep us bound up.  Believing in the existence of God is not enough to relieve us from this bondage.  We have to act upon that belief.  Trusting in God and believing in God are not synonymous.  We believe the sun is going to rise in the morning but we don’t do anything to make it happen.  Same thing with our faith; We can believe all day long that God exists but it doesn’t make a difference because God exists whether we believe it or not. 

I’ve been struggling with what my true purpose is and how to serve the Lord for several years and it has really bound me up for the past several months.  I begin a project and stop and then another project and then stop.  I had so many things that I wanted to do but I wasn’t moving forward on any of them.  I would wake up saying “okay Lord today is the day” and I would go to bed saying “Lord, I’m sorry that I failed You again.”  I was tired of saying that I was sorry and the guilt was killing me.  I was so overwhelmed and I didn’t know what to do.  I finally talked it over with our Pastor and he gave me some real sage advice.  He said that Satan was the one binding me up and if I would just serve the church (God’s children) that His purpose for me would present itself.   That night I had the first guilt free prayer time in what seemed like forever.

God doesn’t bind us up He sets us free.  He doesn’t fill us full of guilt, shame and regret.  Instead He releases us from them.  When we place our burdens at the Savior’s feet He will gladly take them upon Himself and give us rest.

Scripture

As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. For he says, "In the time of My favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you."  I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:1

Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?" Luke 13:16

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
Matthew 11:29-30

We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage;
if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. Romans 12:6-8 

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.  John 8:32