Ready for Christmas
Some people spend so much time and money getting ready for Christmas they loose the spirit of the season and overlook its real meaning. It is a season like no other. The biblical story of the birth of Jesus gave rise to the original celebration of the season. Soon commercialism took advantage and commerce encroached. Such is good if it is not allowed to overshadow the reason for the season. The slogan “Jesus is the Reason for the Season,” helps keep the main thing the main thing. There are other aids in doing this.
In the decoration of your residence include figures and decorations that include Jesus. At one time we had nearly 100 nativities on display at Christmas. At least one should be on display. If there is a child or children in the home have one with which they can play.
Play music centered on the Christian Christmas theme to aid your focus.
Attend the special Christmas music and drama at a church.
Read and reflect on the Luke account of Jesus’ birth.
Such things help keep the focus clear.
Now, are you ready for Christmas? Consider your response in light of this.
READY FOR CHRISTMAS
“Ready for Christmas,” she said with a sigh
As she gave a last thought to the gifts piled high.
Then wearily she sat for a moment and read
Till soon, very soon, she was nodding her head.
Then softly spoke a voice in her dream,
“Ready for Christmas, what do you mean?”
Ready for Christmas when only last week
You wouldn’t acknowledge a friend on the street?
Ready for Christmas while holding a grudge?
Perhaps you had let God be the judge.
She awoke with a start and a cry of despair.
“There’s so little time and I’ve yet to prepare.
Oh, Father! Forgive me, I see what you mean!
To be ready means more than a house swept clean.
Yes, more than the giving of gifts and a tree.
It’s the heart swept clean that you want to see,
A heart that is free from bitterness and sin.
So to be ready for Christmas is to be ready for Him.”
A Gift You Will Never Regret Giving
“…they first gave themselves to the Lord…. II Corinthians 8: 5
Daily appeals are made asking individuals for money. Rare is the person who can say no to all of them. That speaks well of the temperament of Americans.
Jesus noted the blessings afforded persons who give: “Give and it shall be given unto you” (Luke 6: 38).
All giving is reciprocal giving. That is, inherent in giving is getting, if we give with the right motive.
We are told what kind of giver our Lord loves: “So let every one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver” (II Corinthians 9: 8).
The Greek word translated “cheerful” is “hilaros.” You can hear in it our English word “hilarious.” It means a joyful willingness to do what is done. This is normally admirably applied to giving to the cause of Jesus, but it relates to all giving.
Here is a plan. Plan what you are going to give to the cause of Jesus and set it aside. Then plan what else you are going to give and study causes to determine what you will give further. Not all appeals are worthy. Study their record of how gifts are used.
In a society that stimulates our appetites for getting, few people associate joy with giving.
An American teenager would translate the Greek text: “Giggle as you give with holy hilarity as unto the Lord.”
A cultural cloud cover hovers over Acts 20:35, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Observe how II Corinthians 9: 7 neatly unfolds to produce a cheerful giver. Cheerful giving involves:
A sacrifice without casualness – – – “as he purposes.” This expression in Greek is a middle voice verb referring to a set plan.
A sacrifice without complaint – – – “not grudgingly.”
A sacrifice without compulsion – – – “or of necessity.”
Suppose you are in possession of something God wants you to give. What would motivate you to give it? Nothing less than the energizing and motivating power of the Holy Spirit. If you become aware a certain thing is the will of God you should out of love do it cheerfully.
One might conclude Jesus was the ultimate materialist. Of His 18 parables related to material goods. He spoke more about money than about heaven and hell combined. He had twice as much to say about it as about prayer.
However, the opening text notes what the first offering should be yourself.
“…they first gave themselves to the Lord…” II Corinthians 8: 5.
Your Supernatural Enabler
Philippians 4: 15 – 20
“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” This verse is well-loved and often quoted, but frequently misunderstood and thus misapplied. This verse is not a promise that God will enable believers to do whatever they want whenever they want it.
Jesus equips us for life. The apostle Paul, one of Christ’s choice trophies of redemption, believed this and therefore wrote: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13). Do you REALLY believe this?
Various translations are all true to the text, but each makes it a bit more understandable. Note these:
“I am ready for anything through the strength of the One who lives within me” (Phillips).
“I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency” (AMP).
“I can do everything God asks me to with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power” (Living Bible).
“For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength” NLT
“I can do everything God asks me to…” Everything? Everything!
The penman Paul said, “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.” This verse explains how he had been able to be content. He said, “I have learned to be content.” Paul had to learn contentment; it isn’t natural to mankind. The only way we can be content is to learn it. We learn it when we come to realize that everything that is worth doing can be done “through the strength of the One who lives within me” (Phillips).
This verse is not a magic incantation that allows anybody to do anything they desire. Some seem to think it is and misapply it. A person not in a saving relationship with Jesus has no claim to it. Jesus is the facilitator for things He wants done by those He wants to do them. We learn to rely on that as a result of having seen Him do it in our life. Conditions that proved to be instructors teaching Paul are noted: “ I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” After these ups and downs then he said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Our strength to perform duty and to bear sufferings is in Christ. He enables His people; He strengthens them with strength in their souls.
“I am ready for anything through the strength of the One who lives within me” (Phillips).
Remember that today, every day, and in all things.
Palms and Cedars
I feel it is not necessary to explain the meaning of words knowing they likely are known by readers, but I do so to aid readers who perhaps don’t know the meaning. For example, a metaphor is one thing conceived as representing another; a symbol. The Bible uses metaphors widely, such as, “The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon” Psalm 92: 12.
To understand the meaning, find the traits of the palm tree and the cedar in the metaphor.
The beautiful palm tree in the Bible era represented victory of the spirit over the flesh. Palm trees are not made of hardwood. Instead, they consist of spongy, fibrous tissue that helps them be flexible. So the righteous should be.
Palm trees are not the grandest or most impressive trees, thus humility is ascribed to them. A kindred attribute is stability.
They were symbolic of life and prosperity. Other qualities of the palm tree that are noteworthy of the righteous are resilience, victory, peace tranquility, inner peace and serenity.
When Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey shortly before His arrest and crucifixion, the people placed palm branches on the road before Him (John 12:12-13; Matthew 21:7-8). The palm branches depicted joy, celebration and welcome to the King.
It’s test time. How many of those qualities do people see in you?
Now the majestic cedars of Lebanon grow to a height of 150 feet and limbs spreading over a circumference of 30 feet. They were a metaphor for the might and grandeur of God.
The righteous Christian, that is, shall grow like the cedars. Applied, this refers to our spiritual growth as having the qualities of the cedars. Metaphorically it speaks of durability, and resilience. They were also symbolic of divine wisdom.
One physical attribute of the cedar was its strength. They were a valued building product throughout the middle east because of their strength. Their wood was used extensively in Solomon’s temple.
In several ancient cultures, cedar wood was used to construct sacred spaces, temples, and religious artifacts, as it was believed to ward off negative energy and provide spiritual protection.
The tree’s natural oils and resins are believed to have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and insect-repellent properties. In a spiritual context, these qualities represent the cleansing and purifying aspects of cedar, which can be applied to the mind, body, and soul.
As a strong and resilient tree, cedar symbolizes strength and endurance. The tree’s ability to withstand harsh weather conditions, pests, and diseases exemplifies the idea of spiritual resilience and fortitude.
The spiritual significance of cedar encompasses protection, wisdom, strength, purity, and connection with the divine.
Now get out there and flourish like a palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
But God
God said, “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another…” John 13: 34. But God you don’t understand, if you had seen what they did to me you would know why I don’t love them.
The omnipotent all powerful God said, I was with you. You were not at Calvary, if you had seen what they did to my Son you could not have understood why love so great was expressed, and how He could pray, “Father forgive them….”
God said, “… be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4: 32. “But God, you don’t understand, if you had heard what they said about me you would understand why I feel harshly toward them.”
The omniscient, all knowing God said, “I heard what they said. You were not at the mock trial of my Son when they profaned Him, mocked, and ridiculed Him you could not have understood why I forgave them.”
God said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you…” Hebrews 13: 5. “But God, you don’t understand what it’s like to feel so all alone.”
The omnipresent, all present God said, “I know how you rely on feelings rather than facts. You were not in Gethsemane with my Son or you would know what being all alone is really like.”
God is ever present with you,“If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there” Psalm 139: 8.
God is more than equal to any adversity you have. “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear” Isaiah 59:1.
God even knows your thoughts. “God already knows our deepest thoughts” Romans 8: 27.
He is all present, all knowing, and all powerful. Add to that “God is love…” I John 4: 8.
His promise to Jeremiah is relevant in your life, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope” Jeremiah 29: 11. Sounds good, doesn’t it?
If the all present, all knowing, all powerful, all loving God has a plan for you, what flaw could there be in His plan? Why not commit to Him and in loving response resolve to obey Him? It is for your good to do so.
“Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.
He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,
And your justice as the noonday. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him…”
Psalms 37: 5 – 7.
The NLT version reads, “Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and He will help you.” That is a simple act with profound results.