“Let us remember the proclamation of the angel: “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you;He is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11). May our hearts go out to the unconverted people…who have no blessed Christmas day, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord” (Nehemiah 8:10).by ~ Mrs. L.B. Cowman Streams in the Desert
Outside of telling the main story of the birth of Jesus there is more we can and need to do to reach the unconverted. The true unedited message of the baby is a simple one that seems to have gotten complicated over the years. Not because God has added to it or taken away from it but because of us. We seem to have created our own version of illiteracy by reading things into the story that are not even there. We do that with the entire Bible.
Some look at the story and see a baby that will grow up to be a dictator. They see something they can’t believe in and that is the virgin birth so they scrap the whole message. They figure because people can’t place the shepherds, wise men, or kings in the right place at the right time there must be something wrong. They see no need for a Savior in the first place so why this little tike.
It’s what happens after Christmas, after we have told the story that becomes the most important thing. It is here where we will reach the unconverted. The story doesn’t end with the babe in the manger that people need to know about it continues on all the way to Easter in our hearts. No not Easter in April but Easter in our hearts where true conviction and transformation takes place.
As quickly as the Christmas decorations go up they seem to come down just as fast. Nice and neatly or in my case crowded and deeply they are stored in the closet only to come out one year from now. In order to reach the unconverted Christmas needs to stay up in our hearts. It doesn’t belong in the closet of our heart wrapped in swaddling layers of dust and cobwebs only to come out one season a year.
People need to see the blessing that Christmas can be but the only way we can do that is to demonstrate it for them. It’s our job as Christians to join this fashion show and model Jesus, this babe in the manger up and down the run-ways of life for all to see. It begins at the manger and continues on with the reaching out to those around us sharing a meal, buying a gift for those who have nothing, and so much more. Once again we can’t stop when Christmas is over because it needs to continue on in all we do.
Maybe I’m crazy which I know I am, I wonder if it was a mistake years ago to declare Christmas a “holiday.” When they did they made it a seasonal event that was designated to come and go at a certain time and stay away one year in between. We can’t wait for people to come and visit the manger we need to bring the manger and Jesus to people year around.
As soon as this declared Holiday is over we need to stop and take a look at ourselves and ask, “Did I put away Jesus with the decorations or is He still garnishing the walls of my heart, mind, and soul.” As political correctness, selfishness, and spiritual blindness kills this Holiday we need to keep it alive in the lives that we lead. Let’s keep the main story the main story forever and ever for all to see and experience with us.
Our host today is Patricia dear who is trying to type and drink her coffee at the same time. Get on over there to her blog at Typing One-Handed and join her and the rest of us in sharing today’s quote.
Outside of telling the main story of the birth of Jesus there is more we can and need to do to reach the unconverted. The true unedited message of the baby is a simple one that seems to have gotten complicated over the years. Not because God has added to it or taken away from it but because of us. We seem to have created our own version of illiteracy by reading things into the story that are not even there. We do that with the entire Bible.
Some look at the story and see a baby that will grow up to be a dictator. They see something they can’t believe in and that is the virgin birth so they scrap the whole message. They figure because people can’t place the shepherds, wise men, or kings in the right place at the right time there must be something wrong. They see no need for a Savior in the first place so why this little tike.
It’s what happens after Christmas, after we have told the story that becomes the most important thing. It is here where we will reach the unconverted. The story doesn’t end with the babe in the manger that people need to know about it continues on all the way to Easter in our hearts. No not Easter in April but Easter in our hearts where true conviction and transformation takes place.
As quickly as the Christmas decorations go up they seem to come down just as fast. Nice and neatly or in my case crowded and deeply they are stored in the closet only to come out one year from now. In order to reach the unconverted Christmas needs to stay up in our hearts. It doesn’t belong in the closet of our heart wrapped in swaddling layers of dust and cobwebs only to come out one season a year.
People need to see the blessing that Christmas can be but the only way we can do that is to demonstrate it for them. It’s our job as Christians to join this fashion show and model Jesus, this babe in the manger up and down the run-ways of life for all to see. It begins at the manger and continues on with the reaching out to those around us sharing a meal, buying a gift for those who have nothing, and so much more. Once again we can’t stop when Christmas is over because it needs to continue on in all we do.
Maybe I’m crazy which I know I am, I wonder if it was a mistake years ago to declare Christmas a “holiday.” When they did they made it a seasonal event that was designated to come and go at a certain time and stay away one year in between. We can’t wait for people to come and visit the manger we need to bring the manger and Jesus to people year around.
As soon as this declared Holiday is over we need to stop and take a look at ourselves and ask, “Did I put away Jesus with the decorations or is He still garnishing the walls of my heart, mind, and soul.” As political correctness, selfishness, and spiritual blindness kills this Holiday we need to keep it alive in the lives that we lead. Let’s keep the main story the main story forever and ever for all to see and experience with us.
Our host today is Patricia dear who is trying to type and drink her coffee at the same time. Get on over there to her blog at Typing One-Handed and join her and the rest of us in sharing today’s quote.
3 comments:
Karen, Great post! Thanks for sharing today. I fixed McKLinky so you can go to Typing One-Handed and add your link.
Merry Christmas!
You are so right that it has become complicated over the years. Understatement!!
And again, you are right that it has nothing to do with Easter on a calendar, but Easter in our HEARTS!
AMEN!
And I wholeheartedly agree that the whole concept of making a "Season" out of it, dilutes the entire message! It's not a national holiday with all the trimmings of political correctness discussions etc. etc. etc. either *(barf!)*
The message of CHRISTmas is a LIFE! ... which leads to ETERNAL Life with HIM!
Wonderful right-to-the-point post, Karen! Thank you.
Merry Christmas!!!
Sunday we had a skit performed that discussed that "leaving the Christmas lights up all year" instead of packing away Jesus with the decorations. It was a great message then and it is a great message today in this post. Thank you for the reminder that it is about the whole year, not just one day of the year.
Hope you and your family have an amazing Christmas!
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