TT: Contentment

  

 It may seems too difficult to have this kind of feeling when you are feeling insecure but it is through God'sgrace that we can have that great feeling of contentment...

It is by mere truth that good life is not measured by our material possession but it is justified by our impact to other people...

This Christmas season let me share with you the First Christmas, the day when Jesus was born...

TRUE CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION: HOPE ON THE FIRST CHRISTMAS TREE

C

Hristmas is a special time. It is a family celebration. It is glorified in the home because it is the celebration of a birthday.

            Christmas means different things to different people. Many are more concerned to hear about their PROFIT from Christmas than to hear about the PROPHET from Bethlehem.

            Those who celebrate without CHRIST in their lives write “Merry X-mas”- signifying an unknown God.

            Instead of imbibing (absorb into mind) the spirit of Christmas, they chose to imbibe (drink) spirits of Christmas.

            We can’t  have a Merry Christmas or a happy new year when we have become slaves to the passions and vices that hound us-materialism, money, and artificial pleasure. They are crowding CHRIST out of Christmas.

            Three Phenomena the world experienced more than 2000 years ago:

First: The Star- the light that points us to the real Light but sad to say that we focused our eyes o the stars and not on the True Light born in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:2)

Second:  The New Song- The whole world took up a new refrain “Glory to God in the Highest and on Earth peace, goodwill toward men.” (Luke 2: 13-14). But people prefer to hear other songs, sad songs, cynical songs, angry songs, songs worshipping Satan and other things.

Third:  The Good News- The Savior has come “He shall be called Jesus for He shall save His people from sins (Matthew 1:21)

          Jesus was the central theme of that first Christmas. The star, the song, the gifts, the joy, the hope and the excitement- all were because of Him.

            Do you know who put the first Christmas tree? God did it on Calvary. On this tree hung the world’s greatest love gift- His Son.

            He chose to hang His greatest love gift on a tree because Satan using a tree deceived our first parents. He restores men with a tree (cross)

            There were no pretty lights on that  tree- but light was there- because the source of light hung on that tree (John 1: 4,9/ 8:12), (Luke 23:44-45)

          Wrapping on this wonderful gift was His own precious blood.

            We had a spiritual disease, which is called sin. JESUS CHRIST had a great deal to say about sin. He came on that first Christmas night to save His people from their sins. Only Jesus can heal the disease of sin.

            Christmas is not a Christmas without a message on the death and resurrection of CHRIST. This is why He was born.

            Christmas still reminds us that God is with us.

            So when you look at the Christmas tree think of the first Christmas tree.

Color red stands for His precious blood He shed for you

Color crystal for the precious water of life

Color silver and gold reminds you that we were not redeemed with corruptible things, but His precious blood. Remember Jesus was sold for 30 pieces of silver, just for His redeemed ones (us) to walk on streets of pure gold (heaven).

Color green points us to the tree of life where our names are written.

            The Christmas message has not changed after 2000 years.

            God revealed in that life, death and resurrection of Jesus a reconciling love which rescues us from separation and loneliness. Christ is here to give us hope, to forgive sins, and to give us a new song, to impart faith and to heal our spiritual wounds if only we will let Him. Give Him the gift that HE wants- your heart, your soul and your life.

Light came, with one faint star

To show the way;

With one small cry, the Word

Lay speechless in the hay;

Love came and was rejected

At the inn;

Purity was born into the world of sin;

Song woke to the barnyard cluck

And bray and bleat;

And common shepherd knelt

At Sovereignty’s feet.

If you have nothing to give this Christmas, worry not because Christmas is not about gifts.... It's about having the right attitude of understanding the significance of the season...

God bless