Wednesday, December 9, 2009
"Christmas - Part 1"
“But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them
in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God
for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto
them.”
Luke 2:19-20
It's the most wonderful time of the year!
Christmas season has come, and there is no greater time for me
personally. I love Christmas. I love the music, the decorations, the
goodies, and the presents! I don’t like the commercialism that the
world has brought to it, but since I’m not of this world I don’t do
Christmas the way the world does.
Mary and the shepherds had the right Christmas spirit, and we should
too! There are some truths in these verses that will help the Christian
to keep a right view of this season. Mary pondered in her heart all the
events surrounding the birth of Jesus. She didn’t want to lose a
moment; she soaked it all in. This was the Christ that had been
foretold by the prophets, and He was born of her. There were angels
visiting them with messages from God. Now shepherds were coming to see
the Lamb that was born. What a moment! No wonder their hearts were full
of “praising and glorifying God.”
If Christmas is going to be a matter of the heart bringing praise and
glory to God, there are a few things we must hold to. These things are
as follows:
C –Christ first
Christmas is all about Christ Jesus. Not just His
birth, but His pre-existence with the Father, His virgin birth, His
sinless life, His death, burial and resurrection are all part of this
wonderful season!
H –Helping others
Find another person or family that may not have the
blessings you do, and be a blessing. You’ll find that it is “more
blessed to give than to receive”. This is the spirit of Christmas.
R –Remeber those who serve you
Think of those who have a part in making your life
what it is. The postman, the newspaper carrier, the schoolteacher, the
garbage man, the housekeeper, the babysitter, are just a few people who
come to mind. A small gift would be appropriate.
I –Invest in the Lord’s work
Why did Jesus come? “To seek and to save that which
is lost”! Jesus started His church and “gave Himself for it,” and we
should make an extra investment to His work. Find a soulwinning church
and put an extra offering in it!
S –Spend time with family
The most important people to you are the ones you
live with! Take extra time with them. Spend face-to-face time,
laughing, playing games, taking walks, etc. Go to your children’s
Christmas programs. Make the most of their time off from school, and
make family time!
To be continued
Study verses: Gen. 3:15; Isa. 7:14; Isa. 9:6;
Micah 5:2
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Previous devotions
"Walk
in Truth" - December 2, 2009
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