Tag Archive | Jesus

Don’t have a Jesus-free Christmas!

Dec4

Question:  In the hustle and bustle of the season, how can I make sure I’m keeping Christ in Christmas?

Answer:  Even dedicated Christians can sometimes find themselves consumed with every tradition of the holiday season except what’s most important.  They can forget that Jesus really is the reason for the season!  Christians know that this is the time of the year we choose to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Therefore, we should make the time and make the effort to keep Christ in our Christmas!  But, if we know this, then why don’t we do it?

Unfortunately, some Christians can get as consumed with creating the picture-perfect Christmas experience as the world does. They fill themselves with anxiety trying to get the best super sales on the most popular gifts.  Adults get worked up over seeing their peers gifting themselves with the latest “must-have” gadgets and new technology.  They wear themselves out trying to keep up with the trends of the crowd. They forget to  pause, reflect, and be thankful for the greatest gift – Jesus Christ.

Likewise, many Christian families find themselves in turmoil during this season.  Married couples fight over which in-laws they are going to spend Christmas Day with.  Parents argue over how much money they are going to spend to make sure their children have this year’s hottest toys. They fill the family calendar with so many seasonal activities that they find themselves exhausted.  Yet, they fail to make time for the most important things – reading, meditating on, and discussing God’s Word.

Most importantly, during this season of spending extra time with family and friends, too many Christians fail to include in their discussions talk of their walk with the Lord.  They tend not to share with their family and friends how God has brought them faithfully through this year.  They are willing to talk about everything else but Jesus.  It doesn’t have to be this way.

Don’t have a Jesus-free Christmas!  See that you and your family are keeping Christ in Christmas. There are many ways you can do this.  For example, plan to take your family to a church Christmas program that tells the story of Christ’s birth.  While decorating the tree, play or sing Christmas hymns that give praise to our Lord.  Make sure to share with your family and friends how God has blessed you this year.  And, always make sure your family knows the story of the birth of our Savior.  Luke 2: 1-20 spells out in detail how Jesus was born in Bethlehem.  This Bible passage may be one you’d even want to read aloud together.

And, have a very Merry CHRISTmas!

Updated from my December 11, 2014 Post

“We’re with you, Jesus…as long as we don’t get a better offer.”

Feb18

Question:  Why are some Christians siding with those who stand against biblical teachings?

Answer:  Sadly, many Christians have more of a “What’s in it for me?” attitude than a “put God first” attitude. They don’t take the time to examine themselves to see if they are making choices that please God.  Instead, when they make choices on how best to deal with society’s issues, they mostly consider how the outcome will benefit them or the people they care more about.  They don’t put the priority on what is right according to God’s Holy Word.  If the two sides don’t match, it’s God’s side that takes a back seat in their choices.

For too many Christians, not only are they looking out for themselves first, but they also tend to side with what is popular with those they admire.  For example, when some Christians are at parties with friends who are drinking heavily, making crude jokes, or belittling those who don’t embrace their sinful views on social issues,  these Christians will likely remain silent.  They don’t want to look unintelligent or seem like a religious extremist if they offer a biblical view on these topics.  They also fear being excluded from future party invite lists or being labeled intolerant because they aren’t seen as embracing sinful lifestyles.

Other Christians fear losing favor with their boss at work.  They’ve caught on to the unwritten rule that you never openly disagree with the boss if you want to get promoted.  So, to stay in the good graces of their boss, they might choose to simply go along with employers or co-workers’ requests to donate to causes or organizations that the boss supports.  They’ll  agree to donate their money and even their time to these causes even if these causes promote views that go against the teachings of God’s Word.  They choose getting ahead on the job before standing for their faith and refusing to participate in these sin-promoting activities.

Even more far-reaching in impact is when these Christians vote for politicians who clearly state that they are planning to push for legislation that goes against biblical teaching. These politicians promise good things like creating more jobs or helping the poor. Therefore, these Christians are willing to overlook  the sinful things they also promise to do, like supporting abortions and redefining marriage to be something other than the biblical marriage of one man with one woman.  Again, they choose to make God’s teachings take a back seat to the political promises they hope to get.  These choices not only negatively affect them, they negatively affect the entire society and lead them away from God.

Christians must stop being hypocrites — praising Jesus and declaring their love for God on Sunday, then turning their backs on God when they think they’re getting a “better” offer on Monday!   They must remember that Jesus says in John 14:15, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (NKJV)   In Exodus 20:3, God says, “You shall have no other gods before Me.”  When Christians choose social status, money, power, or any other thing that makes them put God after it, they are making these things more important than God is in their lives.  They are making Jesus take a back seat to what they think is a better offer.  We must always remember, though, that there is no better offer than receiving God’s gift of the saving grace of His Son, Jesus Christ!

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Beware! You’re being watched!

Jan21

Question:  How do I get over my resentment of church people after witnessing hypocritical behavior by some of them?

Answer:  Unfortunately, many people have blamed the entire church body for bad behavior they’ve seen or experienced from some in the church. Some have even used this reason to explain why they don’t want to attend church. But they need to know that like everybody else, when members of the church do wrong or treat people wrong, they sin against God.  And, like everyone else, they will answer to God for their actions if they don’t ask forgiveness for and repent of their sins. Those Believers who have truly grown in their relationship with God already know this.

But you need to understand that your own relationship with God should not be based on the actions of humans.  Your relationship with God must be based on your acceptance of the actions of God’s only Son, Jesus Christ!  Jesus is the only one God sent to die on the cross and take the punishment we deserved for our sins.  We can be thankful for His sacrificial death and resurrection.  Only by accepting Jesus as our Savior, asking Him to forgive our sins and repenting from our sins, are we saved from eternal damnation. Then, we can look forward to going to heaven.  And we make the first steps needed to develop godly feelings towards other people.

Because God’s Holy Spirit will then be guiding you and helping you to have the correct feelings towards others — whether they are doing the right things or doing the wrong things.  You’ll learn to hate the sins and not the sinner.  You’ll learn that you are to pray for people who are doing wrong instead of resenting them.  Pray that they repent and do right.  Love them because God loves them and wants them to live their lives for Him.

As Christians, we must remember that we are being watched by both fellow Believers as well as unbelievers.  And just as the Pharisees watched Jesus hoping to find something they could use against Him (see Luke 6:6-11),  our actions will also be used for and against us by others.  Our actions can help draw people to Christ or push them away from Christ.  The Bible teaches us in Matthew 5:13-16 that we are to represent the love of Jesus Christ to others by being “salt and light.”  It says in verse 16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (NKJV)

Beware, Christians!  You’re being watched!  So, make sure what others see is the love of Jesus Christ in you!

Follow me on Twitter: @valclarksplace.com