Tag: Christmas

  • Jesus is the Reason for the season

    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 12:1-2 NIV

    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 NIV

    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

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  • Ready or not – it’s coming (Christmas too!)

    A banner with a Santa hat - the text reads, "Are you ready?"

    Good morning. It’s December 11th, and only two  weeks until Christmas.

    Two weeks to Christmas? How did that happen? It snuck up on me. I’m not ready!

    Ready or not, it’s coming soon. Are you ready?

    The thought that Christmas is only two weeks away instills panic in many people. Some have been ready since January, others by December 1st, and others are mostly ready. A good number of people haven’t even started their Christmas prep.

    Something in the fallen human psyche often causes us to want to procrastinate. For example, we all know it’s winter, and the likelihood of a winter car breakdown or getting stuck in traffic for hours is high. Yet, how many of us have any form of emergency gear in the car?

    It’s winter, and we know there is a good possibility of power grid failure for days or more. Yet, relatively few people are prepared for even two or three days without power, heat, or water. Even the government recognizes we should all have three days to two weeks of emergency food and water on hand. If the government thinks that things will return to normal in two weeks in the event of a disaster, you know it will most likely take far longer. 

    We see that played out in every major hurricane, flood, ice storm, and manmade or natural disaster. The government and relief agencies do their best, but more is needed.

    We know all that and still fail to prepare.  It’s called normalcy bias. One source describes it this way: “Normalcy bias, or normality bias, is a cognitive bias which leads people to disbelieve or minimize threat warnings. Consequently, individuals underestimate the likelihood of a disaster, when it might affect them, and its potential adverse effects. The normalcy bias causes many people to prepare inadequately for natural disasters, market crashes, and calamities caused by human error. About 80% of people reportedly display normalcy bias during a disaster?”

    It also plays out in other ways. I know people who know that the Christian faith is the truth, but they aren’t prepared to surrender to Jesus yet. They have some arbitrary date or event in mind that they want to pass before becoming believers.

    Millions, perhaps billions of people, have heard the call of the Holy Spirit yet refuse Him, thinking they are somehow immune to the consequences.

    Yet the Scriptures clearly state that everyone will hear the truth, and there will be consequences for what one does with that information.

    “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.  am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Revelation 22:12-13 ESV

    He is coming back to make all things right.

    But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning—  lest he come suddenly and find you asleep.  And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake“ Mark 13:32-37 ESV

    Not being ready for Christmas might be uncomfortable. Not being ready for Jesus will be disastrous.

    Are you prepared?

    Be blessed

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

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