Recently I had the opportunity to speak and share my testimony at my church. The dictionary defines testimony as: “A divine decree attested in the Scriptures, a solemn declaration of a fact, an outward sign.”
It’s my passion to share the message of the cross, of Jesus’ sacrifice of love. Everything about Jesus’ life illustrated selfless giving, He gave it all, let it REIGN ON ME.
Christians are to reflect the love of the Son like the moon reflects the light of the sun. And that is what Christmas is all about, giving, not getting. That’s why we call it Christmas (mass of Christ), it’s a no-brainer.
Even the beloved Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang know it’s not about getting everything we want and that is what this special Christmas blog is about.
Want?
One of the biggest misunderstandings in the modern church is that God wants to give us everything we want. When I hear these PRETTY LIES, I just want to bamg my head at this SPECTACLE.
Scripture doesn’t teach that God will make a way for us to be rich and famous; it promises that God will provide what we need. LEAD ME TO THE CROSS; that is ALL I NEED, His love is limitless. God loves us too much and is too wise to give us everything we want.
Materialism rules this world, but Christians are called to be DIFFERENT. Yet, many Christians would rather have earthly mansions that won’t last rather than castles in the sky. They really don’t want to LIVE ON forever with our hero, a humble Carpenter born in BETHLEHEM (Matthew 1:18-25).
Jesus taught His disciples to store up treasures in heaven, not earth (Matthew 6:19-21). While the other “Son of David”, King Solomon chose wisdom and knowledge over earthly treasures (1 Kings 3:9, 2 Chronicles 1:10).
Later King Solomon would say wisdom and knowledge are MORE PRECIOUS THAN SILVER (Proverbs 30:15). When we are younger, we tend to choose temporary and materialistic things over what lasts.
It’s ironic that some of my fondest childhood Christmas memories are of the times I didn’t get what I wanted for Christmas. When I was little, I had no idea how many pairs of underwear and socks little boys needed! But my parents did!
A wise parent knows that the needs of their children are more important than their insatiable quest for entertainment or the latest electronic DEVICES. That is agape love. Mature people can TAKE A BROKEN HEART.
For most of us, as we grow older, we learn there’s MORE 2 LIFE than living for ourselves and life doesn’t always end with a FAIRYTALE ENDING. We learn not to let material things drag us down. When you TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS, it doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor in this life, IT IS WELL with you. Maturity and wisdom teach us to DROP SIN and let go of our plans.
PLANS?
For thousands of years the Jewish people expected and waited for a mighty and powerful earthly king to deliver them and take them from the BOTTOM TO THE TOP. They want to reign and rule over the earth because THEY KNOW God. But, God had other plans, much bigger plans, THIS IS cHRISTMAS.
I can imagine the shock of the wisemen when they followed the signs and finally found their new KING on that OH HOLY NIGHT and sang the first NOEL —HOSANNA in the highest, not really!
King Solomon’s father David was wise because he knew God’s plans are better than ours (Psalm 33:11, 40:5). God’s plan was to show the world mercy and bring joy to the world, to all who believe in His Son Jesus (John 3:16).
As Christians our love for the lost should ECHO God’s. Last month Christians around the country broke the internet complaining about Starbucks’ use of a simple little red cup and God’s people decided to LET’EM HAVE IT.
Although, I understand the intent, I don’t understand the actions. Are we more concerned about keeping the “letter” of the law than the “spirit” of it? This Christmas, remember, Jesus is the main thing.
