I was recently talking about Christmas with an acquaintance.  He told me Christmas isn’t his thing; it’s just another excuse for a day off. They occasionally get together for a family function on Christmas, but his dysfunctional family makes it less than fun.

Some of his in-laws have a “religious background” but don’t really practice, and he “is not into all that anyway.” 

He and his wife don’t exchange gifts because they have everything they need. He told me that he “hates” shopping this time of year anyway because of the crowds and the hype.

He isn’t alone in feeling that way. Many people don’t enjoy Christmas. I don’t judge them, but my heart does break.

I agree that Christmas isn’t about the family get-togethers, the shopping, the decorations, the Christmas music and movies, or the gifts. Now, any or all of those things can add to the Christmas experience., but Christmas is a celebration of God’s story. 

There is plenty wrong with how we portray the Christmas story; for example, Jesus was most likely born in the spring, the angels didn’t sing, we don’t know how many magi there were, and more. Yet, the incarnation of our Lord is front and center, and that’s reason to celebrate.

The Christmas story is filled with miracles and fulfilled prophecies. That should catch our attention and point us to the wonder of it all.

Jesus is the Center. Immanuel, God with us is the reason for the season. He is cause for eternal celebration.

My favorite Christmas texts are not found in the gospel accounts of Jesus’ birth.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 2:1-2

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:5-8

Those verses don’t mention Christmas, the virgin birth, angels, shepherds, miracles or prophecies, magi, King Herod, a star, a census, Bethlehem, or many other components of the Christmas narrative we expect.

Yet, they describe what Christ sacrificed to come  and redeem us. That redemption started, in a way, with His birth. he came for us.

The Lord gave up all things to step into time. He condescended to be born in the womb of one of His creations so that he could suffer and die for us.

That, my dear friends, is the reason for Christmas. Strip away all the other trappings, even the ones we enjoy, and the reason for the season stands bright.

A baby, born to die for you and me. A lord who humbled Himself to redeem us. God’s great gift of love and mercy. It’s when heaven came down to earth.

May you keep that forefront in your mind this season.

Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

Kevin

Gleanings From The Word

Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)

Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. Your value in God’s eyes is so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that his plan for heaven will not be complete without you.

__________________________________________ 

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© 2024 Gleanings From the Word, K.F. “Kevin” Corbin. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.

Books, books, books. If you have been reading  Gleanings for any length of time, you will know that I have a passion for books. In particular, I have a weakness for good conservative evangelical books, particularly old ones. 

I have rescued many from destruction and appreciate their scholarly insights. Finding sufficient bookshelf space around our home has always been a challenge.

Since my retinal detachment and repair, I have been reading most of my books on my devices, where I can adjust the font size as needed. Still, I have gathered a growing collection of Large-print books.

Having said all of that, I must also warn you there can be a real danger to books as well. Many cults add the works of their leaders as required reading, equal to or elevated above the Bible as truth. These books often detail “THE” way to salvation. 

Be wary of these books. The Bible needs to be the foundation. Even with my passionate weakness for good theology books, the Bible always comes first.

The Bible is the source of all information needed for salvation. The information alone is not sufficient; the Holy Spirit must work in us to convict us, but no additions to what is claimed in Scripture are required,

Be very cautious of any church whose traditions or writings are equal to or elevated above Scripture. That should be a huge warning light to any believer.

The Bible contains all the principles needed to be our guide to living life. 

Other books may help clarify and offer great insights, but once again, we need to use Scripture as our foundation. Again, the Holy Spirit can be a great guide, but if it is the Holy Spirit (and not something else) speaking, He will never guide us in a direction contrary to the Word.

Be wary of any church whose rules and regulations for living place themselves above Scripture. This, too, is a danger sign.

The Scriptures are our operating manual for life. They are not in error and do not need a “best before” date. They are timeless, as God Himself is timeless.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:21

What does it mean to be God-breathed? It means they contain the very life breath of God. God breathed life into Adam in the garden (see Genesis 2:7). The Bible is not only “inspired”; it is “exhaled” by the very lips of God Himself. No other book can honestly make that claim.

Good and godly people can and have written good and godly books. I think of people like Matthew Henry, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, G. Campbell Morgan, Adam Clark, some of the Puritans, and even many of today’s authors, as well as many more.

They have much to teach us, but their writings are not the very living breath of God. I love their writings dearly but always return to Scripture as the foundation.

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1

Until next time, may the living Word of God be your source.

Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

Kevin

Gleanings From The Word

Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)

Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. Your value in God’s eyes is so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that his plan for heaven will not be complete without you.

__________________________________________ 

Did you know that we have an email version? It has the same great content but in a different format.

Subscribe today: https://mailchi.mp/f27bbeb09c22/gleanings-1 

For an archive of many back issues, visit our website at https://gleaningsfromtheword.com.

© 2024 Gleanings From the Word, K.F. “Kevin” Corbin. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.