Christmas Fortnight Day 11

As we continue looking at the birth of our Lord, let’s spend these last few days with some of the people connected with the event.  How about the ‘innkeeper’?  This famous person who was of unknown gender, age or heritage.  One who ‘had no room for Jesus’—an anonymous person we all remember.

Luke 2:7 records, “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” 

But what about me/you? Do we have any room?  Do we have any time for Jesus?  Or are we like him/her, oblivious to the KING’s family knocking at his door.  At your door?

Jesus speaking to the church at Laodicea said,

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.“  Rev. 3:20.

This message was to the ‘church’, a ‘church’ that had no need for “Jesus”.  Who thought of themselves,

“I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing…”  Rev. 3:17a.

Ring any bells?  Many ‘so-called’ churches, Christians and media stars of ‘Christianity’ seem to have this same opinion of themselves.  But what did Jesus say?

“and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked…”. 

The ‘church’, those who claimed His name, had decided they ‘had no room for Him and His ways’.

Jesus also said in Mark 2:17, “When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” 

Until we realize our need—

that we are “poor in spirit”,

we have no need for a Savior!!!

As long as I see ‘ME’ as ‘righteous’, I don’t need Jesus.

How about you?

Do you have room for Jesus?

What is your legacy?

 Room?

 NO room?

Do you know ‘TRUTH’ or

have NO truth?

Jesus said, “I AM THE TRUTH”!! (Jn 14:6)

We’re always free to choose but the consequences that come are NOT our choice.  “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap..”  Galatians 6:7.  Consequences will always be more than you sowed, later than you sowed and more costly than you ever expected when you sowed.  You can choose God’s way or your own way.  I am deeply disturbed that in the “land of the free”, we are unable to express our beliefs, religious or otherwise, without ridicule unless they agree with the popular “thinking” of our day.  But as much as that disturbs me, I am disturbed even more that this issue of “sexuality” has brought a form of hypocrisy that grieves my heart.  I am saddened that many will ‘like’, ‘share’, ‘post’, ‘comment’ and spread the word of this man who is under attack by A&E, BUT will not order their own lives as HE HAS and live what they say they believe.  As I understand it he is a godly man who lives and practices his belief in ‘Biblical Christianity’.  This man doesn’t claim to be perfect, only redeemed and living for Jesus.  Some of us ‘claim’ that same name of Jesus and are NOT living like the redeemed.  Some are shacked up, drinking up, drugging up, lying up, stealing up, cussing up …etc., etc. How can you identify with this man? John 14:15 says, “ If ye love me, keep my commandments.”  Whose commands are you following?  The Bible’s or man’s?  Is your behavior worldly or Biblical?  Can you speak the truth as this man has and have a life that backs it up?  1 Corinthians 6:9-11 sums it up, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”  Jesus is coming soon—will you be found a ‘faithful servant’ or will you hear Jesus say, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”  (see Matt. 7:14-29).

Christmas Fortnight Day 10

Here we are –one week until Christmas Day.  A question.  Which do you enjoy most, giving or receiving gifts?  Of course we all love to receive gifts, it’s nice to know that someone cares about us enough to give a gift.  But when I give, why do I give?  To receive, to be noticed, obligation??

I think the key is to remember the GREATEST GIFT!!

 John 3:16 reminds us, “For God so loved the world, that HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, that whosoever believeth in HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life.” 

God loved us and gave HIS SON to die for us.  What do we give?  Some of us choose and give the perfect gift for each person according to their needs or likes.  Others of us buy a dozen of some great bargain and give one to each person on our list.  Now each style of giving has it’s positives and negatives.  But what is important?  Money, self, time?

1 Peter 4:9-10 says, “Use hospitality one to another without grudging. 10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God..”

This refers to spiritual gifts, but I think we can learn about giving here.

We are to be hospitable–-‘friendly & welcoming to strangers and friends’.

We are to give as we have received,

“For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required….”  (Lk 12:48b).

In a word—YOURself.  God gave Jesus–I can give ME!!

Don’t get caught up in “price” or “vogue”.  Is there someone who’d love to hear your voice, spend time with YOU, have your help for a difficult task?   Maybe just a visit?  Think about it!! Is there someone on your list who just needs YOUR time?  Is there someone you need to call today?  Is there someone who needs a token of your LOVE?

Stop!! 

Think!! 

Listen to your heart!! 

Then just DO IT!

Christmas Fortnight Day 9

Ornaments, lights, a manger and even trees—we’ve looked at all of these during this Christmas “Time”.  We are a culture of “Time”.  Clocks, watches, alarms, appointments, deadlines, punctuality!!!   All things related to time, so let’s take a ‘minute’ to talk about “Time”.  We mention Christmas ‘time’ as a special ‘time’ to reflect on the incarnation of our Messiah, our Savior, our Lord, yet is this not something that we should reflect on, celebrate and share all the ‘time’?

 Philippians 2:7-8 says of Jesus, “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” 

Jesus stepped into “Time”,

he took on Himself the ‘likeness of men’.

He ‘humbled himself’,

took on servant hood and

walked to the cross for us.

Born to die!!!  It all goes together.  We should celebrate Jesus coming every day.

God exists irrespective of ‘time’.

He created ‘time’.

It’s a tool not a dictator.

Are we so hung up on ‘times’ and seasons that we forget to use our ‘time’ celebrating and sharing the love of God each and every day. Christmas and Resurrection go together.  Jesus is LORD of all ‘Time’.

Paul tells us how.

Philippians 2:12b-16a, “…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16 Holding forth the word of life;…”     JESUS!

So?  As someone said, ‘Just do it’…  Let’s celebrate Jesus all the “Time”—everyday, everyway ALL days!!!