Merry Christmas! MERRY CHRISTMAS! Merry Christmas! Who ever thought Merry Christmas would be a word we could not use for greeting one another. Many are trying to erase any word associated with the name of Christ. If it where not for Christmas what would we have to give to the world, that is lost? God gave the world the greatest gift when He breathed into our nostril the breath of life, in the very beginning of time. We choose to live by accepting that pure air we breathe. Not too many people want to stop breathing, but many are breathing impure air and experiencing the consequences, shame and disgrace. In the beginning of time men had to choose rather to obey God, or Satan and it seems people want to obey Satan and stamp out anything to do with God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit. I trust this Christmas we see what the wise men saw and that was a star which stood over where Jesus was born. Herod the King could not see the star, can we? Herod wanted the wise men to tell him were he lay, they did not. Herod was so angry he had all the children killed from 2 years old and younger. He tried to stamp out the name of Jesus, but he could not. I do not think man can destroy the name of Jesus, for He came to give us life more abundantly, as we accept the greatest gift of all. God gave us His only Son as a baby to grow into manhood, so we could go through rejection. The world is doing a great job of rejecting the Jews, the Christians and truth, but God is going to protect us as He did Jesus from Herod. Note what the wise men did first as they worshiped God, they surrendered to His will. Then they gave gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Gold is symbolic of riches of a Kingly person of wealth. God wants us to treat Jesus as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, as we are a part of the Kingdom of God. What riches we have, as we accept the way, the truth, and the life, He then brings blessing, not curses. Gold is going to be in abundance in Heaven and He wants us to have His riches now of His grace and mercy. All we have to do is say Lord I’m sorry for doing wrong, forgive me and help me to do your will. Then you can rejoice in the Lords gift of eternal life right now. Frankincense was the most fragrant of all perfumes and it’s symbolic of the aroma of the presence of the Lord upon our lives as Christians. We all have a smell, an atmosphere and I trust it’s the love of the Lord. It’s the Honey in the rock that draws people to the Lord, as we are salt and light in a world that is going sour. Lets not hid our light, but reveal by actions that we are following Jesus. Myrrh was used for medical purposes and embalming and that is what is needed to day, to heal our sin sick souls. When we die out to the Lord, he gives us the myrrh to preserve us to carry on, as Ambassadors for Christ. He heals the broken hearted when they cry out for forgiveness for He loves the whole world and all within it. Here we are December 17, 2005, what a beautiful time of the year, people celebrating the birth of our Savior and King just as the wise men did. Many do not know what He has to offer and do not really care, for they get to do what they want to. I hear often, you do your thing and I’ll do mine, so don’t bother me. Who do you think you are telling me; Jesus is the way, truth and life? I wonder how Jesus felt when He tried to help others, including Judas. I find that even in the Church today, people do not want to accept reality. Reality is difficult, for it requires the Lords will, not mine. I am so thankful this Christmas season it is still JESUS, OTHERS AND YOU that spells JOY. |