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…