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Christmas as a Christ-follower.
“Don’t be naive. There are difficult times ahead.
As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse,
dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical,
treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God.
They’ll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they’re animals. Stay clear of these people.”
II Timothy 3:1-5 The Message
It seems to me that 2024 unfolded the Apostle Paul’s words unapologetically.
The Apostle Peter spoke on the subject in his writings.
“My dear friends, this is now the second time I’ve written to you. Both letters are reminders to hold your minds in a state of undistracted attention.
Keep in mind what the holy prophets said, and the command of our Master and Savior that your apostles passed on.
First off, you need to know that in the last days, mockers are going to have a heyday. Reducing everything to the level of their puny feelings, they’ll mock, “So what’s happened to the promise of his Coming? Our ancestors are dead and buried, and everything’s going on just as it has from the first day of creation. Nothing’s changed.”
II Peter 3:1-4 The Message
In my last post, I spoke about how challenging 2024 has been for almost all of humanity.
However, it is the Christmas season, a time to give and be thankful that Christ was born. It is clearly understood that Jesus’s birth did not occur on December 25th.
It is generally accepted that December 25th was selected as the date because of Roman Emperor Constantine’s conversion and his insistence that Christ be celebrated.
The truth is that Jesus was born, and humanity likes to celebrate the day. The earliest recorded birthday dates back to 3,000 B.C., which means it was natural to want to celebrate the birth of Christ.
The point is that celebrating Jesus’s birth is important because it provides annual recognition of his existence.
As a Christ-follower, it is a time to reflect on that night in Bethlehem. It should offer an opportunity to adjust your thinking, surrender habits that interfere with your relationship with God, and renew a commitment to follow him.
Last week, I mentioned that gift-giving in my family is meant to express God’s gift of his Son to humanity.
It isn’t done out of obligation or expectation but out of love.
It isn’t the cost or size of the gift that matters, but the intent of your heart to give it.
It is an expression of love and appreciation.
However, gift-giving is attributed to Martin Luther (the purported founder of the Protestant Reformation).
Prince Albert made it a Christmas practice to give gifts to family in the 1840s.
In the U.S., the consumer approach to Christmas began as early as the 1820s and had become big business by the 20th century.
But Christmas is about Christ.
The Old Testament prophet Isaiah wrote it this way.
“For a child has been born – for us! the gift of a son – for us! He’ll take over the running of the world. His names will be: Amazing Counselor, Strong God, Eternal Father, Prince of Wholeness.”
Isaiah 9:6 The Message
A child was born for us—humanity, and a gift was given to us—humanity. The child was Jesus, and the gift was restoration to humanity’s original purpose, which is to walk with God.
The New Testament Apostle, John, wrote it this way.
“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.”
John 3:16 The Message
God loved, and God gave so that no one need be destroyed.
What a powerful gift.
This is what Christmas must be about, reflecting on this wonderful life-giving gift of eternal life.
A challenge is in order
This Christmas 2024, offer each gift you give as a reminder of the gift God has given you.
With each gift that you unwrap, open it while remembering the extravagant gift that Jesus is.
This year may be filled with challenges, but they pale in comparison to the gift of God found in Jesus the Son.
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