December 6, 2021 - Monday
You know the feeling you get as you start to put out your Christmas decorations? The feeling that if you don’t soon get them up… you may as well not bother. Most of us would agree that the Christmas season goes too fast. Isn’t it true!! The decorations are hardly worth all the work for the short amount of time that we get to enjoy them. Hence the debate over when it is officially “okay” to start decorating. Yes, we are talking about decorations here… but the reality is that the 25 days of December are nowhere near enough time to celebrate!! The observance of our Saviors birth was never intended to be a one month celebration, but rather a lifelong posture.
In December, Christ is remembered through the manger, and in the spring – He is remembered through the cross. Yet… the significance of these two events extend far beyond two months out the year. In fact – their significance is eternal.
“Jesus’ birth makes all the difference,
and His death makes us different."
The Power of Christmas
How we celebrate Christmas in our homes is intended to be a 365 day journey, year after year. It doesn’t end when the tree comes down and the gifts are all unwrapped. You see… the birth of Christ is just the beginning. There is so much more beyond Luke 2!! Yes, there were shepherds, angels, a manger, and wise men… but that is just chapter 2.
Honestly, it will be hard to make the 25 days of December holy if we don’t make the other 340 days of the year holy. At the turn of the year, as we "pack up Christmas"... let us purpose to leave open the space we carved out for it. May the tradition of adoration permanently infuse our hearts and homes.
We don’t have to conform to the patterns of the world. The patterns of the world do not define us. As followers of Christ we define them! Christmas is about Christ! Let us reflect Him in all we do. As we choose the path less traveled, we must remember – not conforming isn’t avoiding… it is redeeming! We are not called to avoid the traditions of the world, but to redeem them!
And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you]. (Rom 12:2, AMP)
Every good and perfect thing is from above. Our world and everything in it belongs to God. We must remember this important truth as we take back what was originally God’s and redeem it for His glory!
Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of lights [the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens], in whom there is no variation [no rising or setting] or shadow [a]cast by His turning [for He is perfect and never changes]. (Jm 1:17, AMP)
Yahweh claims the world as his. Everything and everyone belong to him! (Ps 24:1, TPT)
It isn’t what we do… it’s how we do it. We are called to put our heart and soul into everything we do… and do it ALL for His glory! As we let our light shine, He gets the glory! Don’t get lost in the details… simply look for Jesus in details.
23 Put your heart and soul into every activity you do, as though you are doing it for the Lord himself and not merely for others. 24 For we know that we will receive a reward, an inheritance from the Lord, as we serve the Lord Yahweh, the Anointed. (Col 3:23-24, TPT)
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