Have a BLESSED Christmas (all year around)!

 

The wonderfully warm image above evokes a strong sense of nostalgia and seasonal marvel amongst the young-at-heart as well as the older folk.  Interestingly, it contains very little if any indication that the imaginary owner of such a scene in the home has any actual clue as to the real meaning of Christmas.

As believers in Jesus Christ, there are as many points of view regarding the Christmas celebration as there are traditions of the same.  We range from one side of the question to the other as far as our particular participation goes at this time of year.  Some do not celebrate Christmas at all, saying that it is something we need to observe every day, and quote the pagan sources of many of our Christmas traditions.

Still others point out that those same images (the tree, the "yule log" or the mistletoe, etc.) can be used to teach spiritual truths surrounding the birth of Christ, if one enters into the seasonal events "advisedly" and with eyes wide open.

Still others in our midst insist that these same traditions are not pagan but rather, merely family traditions which are harmless  in themselves as long as we realize they are what they are and do not try to add religious significance to the items or the traditions themselves, and instead just enjoy them for the natural beauty they add to the home, such as in the nostalgia-steeped image above.

Whatever your point of view, we do know that Christ was born in a lowly place in a humble manner and that the Scriptures tell us the story, from the words of the prophets to the Gospel account.  Also, we know that He was born with a singular purpose, to reconcile men to God.  

As C.S. Lewis wrote,  "The Son of God became a man to enable men to become the sons of God."

My point here is not to resolve the question of whether we should have a decorated tree in our home or even in a place of worship as some congregations do, or to give gifts to one another, but to simply remind us that we need to focus on God's singular purpose, and to do what He has called us to do in the fulfillment of the Great Commission as written in the last chapter of the Book of Matthew.

Matthew 28:18-20

New International Version (NIV)

 "Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Perhaps one of the clearest statements made recently regarding this season was written by Stuart Briscoe, who stated the following:

"The spirit of Christmas needs to be superseded by the Spirit of Christ. The spirit of Christmas is annual; the Spirit of Christ is eternal. The spirit of Christmas is sentimental; the Spirit of Christ is supernatural. The spirit of Christmas is a human product; the Spirit of Christ is a divine person. That makes all the difference in the world."

On another note, this month another saint has graduated from this life and has entered into the presence of His Creator.  Our brother, Gordon Thompson, passed away in his home recently.  Brother Gordon served the Lord in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and here in the the USA, ministering for many years to the Latin populations in those places.  Brother Gordon and his wife, Erma, also served on the OLE Church Planters board of directors for a number of years.  He was a constant inspiration to us all and left many disciples, results of his long ministry, to continue on in the fulfillment of  the Great Commission, a responsibility that brother Gordon dedicated his life to.  We will miss you brother, and will see you soon!

May God richly bless you and yours, all year around, and may you know the grace and mercy of our Lord in abundance!