Taking the "Bah, Humbug" Out of Christmas

     Sitting at my computer desk the other day, I glanced up at a colorful poster above the screen.  It lists the nine character qualities that we as Christians are meant to display:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control.  Now that is a boatload of good qualities that we are to possess isn't it?  However, think how much more productive, joy-filled and blessed our Christmas time would be if we would demonstrate such expressions of God's love. Contrast that picture with the realities most of us see each day as the holiday approaches.
       While going to the grocery store the other day, a parking space opened up near the store.  I put on my turn signal indicating my intent to take the spot.  As I pulled in, another car honked at me and the driver shook his fist as if to say, "I saw that spot first and I should have had it."    I meant no harm to the other person and in fact, I never saw them indicating his desire for the spot.  Ah, but such is the pressure that often surrounds the build up to Christmas.  People lose their tempers with one another as well as the employees in stores.  Lack of manners, unkind words, and even pushing to get something before someone else does is commonplace.
      When we read the newspaper, there are many tales of folks injured during a "black Friday" sale.   Fist fights and violence can easily erupt all in the name of getting an item for purchase.  If anything, we often see the sin nature emerge when the pressure is on to have the best, the biggest, and the most outstanding Christmas ever.
      Now, step back with me and look at the manger scene in the Bible.  Jesus Christ, the King of Kings, was born in an animal stable.  He did not have the best of everything in terms of accommodations but He was the best gift ever given to us!  This tiny child came to serve, to live and to die for us in our place.  He was the perfect sacrifice for our sins.  The quiet and peace of that silent night stands miles apart from the raucous noise of shopping malls and the bright holiday lights.
     What's more, when we give our heart to Christ and confess Him as Lord and Savior, there is a radical change within us as well.  We receive a new heart, and as we pour ourselves into His Word, our minds are renewed and change being transformed by the power of His Holy Spirit.  Ephesians 1:13 tells us:  "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit...."  This precious deposit of the Holy Spirit begins the teaching, guiding, comforting work that leads us to that day when we shall see Him face to face.
     In addition to all this, the Holy Spirit brings forth fruit in our life:  "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,...." (Galatians 5:22).  When we bear this fruit, people can see it in our lives.  They will know we are different.  Because sin no longer has a hold on us, we are freed from the opposite things that put the "bah humbug" in Christmas:  "Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God...." (Galatians 5:10-21).
     Our redemption has fully delivered us from the ill-tempered, self-serving, rebellious person we used to be and placed us in the righteousness of Christ through no effort on our part.  God has done this by the counsel of His Own Will.  How glorious then it is to live f
or Him not just at Christmas but all the time.  When we bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit, we are testifying to the great work God has done in and through us.  We are meant to be a light in this dark world and live differently so that all may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.
      Since we have been set free from junkyard dog living, let us put on a smile that radiates the change in our heart.  The world needs to see that we no longer live in the "bah humbug" mindset but have been made a fruitful vine in the house of our God.  This is the true meaning of Christmas...living for Him.  Selah!

Living What We Believe

     I happened upon an article the other day on the internet of an interview with a Christian/secular singer.  She was telling about her new Christmas album in the piece, and saying that she respected the decision of a large Christian book seller not to carry her album.  The company had simply stated that they did not feel the album was "Christian enough" to warrant space in their stores.  Of course this brings about disagreement among some who feel this is not fair.  Yet at the same time there were several statements in the article that led me to have concern over what the artist really believes.
      Her overall tone in the interview was that God is love and He loves all people.  She should never judge anyone no matter how they live.  She also went on to say that her faith was very personal and while she sings some Christian songs, she also has a passion to explore secular music as well.  She does not feel that it is necessary to mention Jesus in all that she does.  Personally, I was surprised to read this and concerned at the same time. I have always believed that when we commit our lives to Christ our work is a reflection of our devotion to Him...it is a ministry and should glorify Him.
     A flood of Scripture came to mind like the Apostle Paul in Philippians 1:21:  "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."  Then in his letter to the Colossians in chapter 3:23-24, Paul wrote:  "23Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, 24knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve."
     If we are slaves to Christ and given our all to Him, then, doesn't this mean that we declare him by all that we say and do?  I Corinthians 6:19-20 reads:  "…19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body."  Then in the Letter to the Ephesians Paul writes:  "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."  The theme running throughout Scripture indicates to me that we have a choice to make in how we live.  We either serve God with all our heart or man.  Jesus said:  "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21).  Throughout the Scripture, those who are called by God to be His own and who receive the gift of salvation offered through Christ's sacrifice for our sins are then set apart and called to be holy.  This does not mean that we withdraw from all things in the world by any means, but as we walk through life, we are to be the light and salt that points to Jesus Christ as savior and Lord.
     In the article, the comments the singer made indicated a more shallow view of God and man.  The philosophy of "God is love" and loves all of us is true in the sense that He sent His Son into the world to die for our sins.  However, not all men are believers which means that they are not God's children.  They were created by Him but have chosen to live in sin.  Either this singer does not know the doctrines of the faith very well or has succumbed to a very easy believe-ism where we just all want to get along, sing pretty songs, hear easy messages that tickle the ears and be satisfied with that.
     Becoming a Christian is more than a prayer of confession and accepting Christ as Savior.  It involves a real heart change that leads to a hunger for God's Word and a desire to commune with Him in prayer.  To be a disciple is to study the doctrines of the faith and understand what we believe.  Then, we must live it out daily in all that we do.  We are called to be His witnesses in this world, to walk in faith, to teach others the truths found in the Bible and live it out in whatever occupation we have in this world.
     Certainly, I do not know the inner workings of this woman's heart.  She sounds very conflicted in her views nevertheless.  My hope and prayer for her is that she would come to know the depth of Christ so that she could better use her talent to bring others to the Lord she says she believes in.  Fame is fleeting and life is short.  We all would do well to remember that no matter what type of work we are involved in.  Let us make the most of each day and not neglect to learn the doctrines of the faith as revealed in the Bible.  Others are watching, listening, and following us whether on social media or on the job.  Therefore, let us live the faith we profess with sincere devotion so there will never be a question about where we stand when it comes to Jesus Christ.  May His name receive the glory always!  Selah!

Whatsoever Things Are Good

     During this long election season we have gone through, it is hard to keep a positive outlook.  People are tense, out of sorts, and often rude, and a lot of it can be related to the atmosphere created by the contentious times in which we live.  In fact, today I read a story about a woman who wore her
candidates button into a doctor's office.  A fellow sitting across from her in the waiting room got into a disagreement with her over her choice of candidate and went over and struck her on the side of the face with his newspaper.  He indicated he was very sorry for such action but will face legal consequences for his behavior.
     While we may look at that incident and consider it extreme, I do believe it is easy to get caught up in the heat of the moment.  So, as believers, how do we get through times like these without losing our peace and perspective?  The Apostle Paul has a clear answer for us in the letter to the Philippians.

A lighthouse in Peninsula Park Wisconsin
Christ is our lighthouse!

     At the time Paul was imprisoned, he wrote to the church to encourage them and thank them for their support.  In chapter 4 verse 8, we read:  "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."  Paul's concern for his brothers and sisters in the faith was that their minds dwell on things uplifting rather than on earthly circumstances.  I believe he had a twofold purpose in writing this.
     First, Paul knew man's propensity for sin.  We have the Holy Spirit living and dwelling in us when we committed our life to Jesus Christ as our Lord.  However, the old man with bad habits and thoughts is there to try to pull us back into the path of sin. An old saying goes, "An idle mind is the devil's workshop and our hands his tools."  When we do not spend time in God's Word, we have put down the sword of the Spirit as our defense.  If we do not talk with God daily, we are missing out on His comfort and guidance.  In addition, we are to be "transformed" by the renewing of our minds, but this only comes as we are immersed in fellowship with the Lord both through His Word and prayer.
     Secondly, I believe that Paul wants our witness to be different than that of the world.  Many in our culture look at only the circumstances and have no peace of mind and heart.  They come across as negative, discouraged and hopeless.  By contrast, as Christians praise the Lord and recount in our own minds all that God has done for us, we are thinking good, pure and lovely thoughts.  After all, we are citizens of heaven not of earth.  We are pilgrims passing through, and God does not want us so caught up in worldly affairs that we lose our witness to a dying world.
     By keeping our minds focused on the pure, lovely and commendable, we are far less likely to gossip, judge one another or meddle in the affairs of others.  It was Jesus who told us in Matthew 12:26: " I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak..."  Idle words come from idle minds that are too immersed in the matters of this world.  Let us strive to live this verse  so that our light may shine before men who can see our steadfast trust in the Lord who works all things together for good to those who love Him.  Be encouraged and think on all He has done for us!  Selah!