Advent Reading~ in His Word~ 12-16-2020

 


Advent Reading ~In His Word~ December 16, 2020

When you celebrate this year, do you plan to incorporate Jesus into your celebrations?

When my children were small, they began acting out the Christmas story from Luke. We had read it to them enough times and so one year they decided to act it out one year. It was the beginning of a blessing of a theater family. They all have had their times on stage. It began with sharing the beginning of Christ.

The birth of Jesus should be the beginning of our Holiday Season. He should be the center. He should be the big finale on the day we gift one another because He was and is the biggest most awesome gift given to us humans from the biggest most awesome e God, our Creator, and heavenly Father. Many people make a Christmas Cake and consider it a birthday cake for Jesus, it is one way to incorporate Him into your celebration. What ever you do, don’t just make it only about the other guy… Christmas begins with Christ!

When we chose to follow Jesus, we put on the new life in Christ, or the ‘new man’ as Colossians says, we became not just followers of Jesus but dwellers with Him.  

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. Colossians 3:1-2

When Mary and Joseph accepted the will of God, they put on parenthood but they also commited to raise Jesus in the way that He should go. They honored God in all that they did. They commited to God’s will. When Jesus went to the cross, He commited to “Not my will but Thine be done”.

Because of this commitment we too can live with pure hearts before Him. We can ‘put on the new man’ thinking on the things that are above, not focusing on the world’s idea of Christmas, not just thinking of the gathering of parties to get loud but to gather to share Jesus with others. We can put on kindness as we shop, we can put on meekness as we stand in lines, we can bear with one another and allow someone to go before us just because they seem agitated about standing and waiting in line. We can tell people not just Merry Christmas, but God bless you! As we walk away, we can bless them because we have Christ indwelling within us via the Holy Spirit.

When Simeon blessed Jesus, his parents were amazed! Be prepared to amaze people!

Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, and many others to rise. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him.  As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.” Luke 2:33-35

Do not be afraid, He knows our hearts and we often can feel or be intimidated by the idea of speaking about our Savior in public places, fear can grip us when we least expect it. Get rid of that stinking thinking instead on things above, holy and pure thoughts; think Higher. Be guided by the star in the sky that leads us to Jesus, like the shepherds and kings.  Having the knowledge and love of Jesus is reason enough to bless someone else with hope, peace, and joy. Let His light shine through you today as you rejoice, He will shine through you as the bright star shined in the night of His birth!

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body: and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.  And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:12-17

 

And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So, they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.” Matthew 28:18-20

From the beginning to the end, and the new beginning… rejoice! In Jesus’ name…