Be Not of the World
Christmas has become an interesting holiday. For many it is about the best sales and how
many gifts can be given. Christmas trees
loaded up with the biggest and the best.
For business it is clearly about bumping up the sales number bottom
line. There is no denying the fact that
most people today see Christmas as a secular time of gift giving.
Today I saw a news story about an art sculpture installation
of a Christmas tree made entirely of stuffed plastic bags from area
stores. The world has us believing that
the holiday is about plain and simple consumerism. As parents we count gifts and their values
making sure that each child has an equal amount. We even do this with our spouse; feeling bad
and horrible if our spouse happen to buy us one more gift than we bought her. I found myself in this space this season. This is being of the world. Counting success by the world’s definition
and not His.
Romans 12:2 reminds us…
2Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and
approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
On this Christmas day we need to continue to keep our minds
set on Christ and his purpose. Christmas
is about God sending His Son, Jesus, to be with us and to be our savior. “For unto you is born this day in the city of
David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." –Luke 2:1. Christ is the perfect gift we all need to
accept this Christmas. Jesus laid aside
His glory to become a human and to take the judgment we deserve. Christ did not come to initiate a spending
spree on gifts.
Christmas is not just a day, but a season – a 12-day season
lasting from Dec. 25 to Jan. 5 — during which Christians celebrate the birth of
Jesus Christ. Each of these next 12 days
of Christmas I challenge you to meditate on the gift you have received in
Christ. Take time to renew your mind
about the greatest gift of all… Jesus Christ came to pay the price for our sin
and decided separation from Him. Study
the Word and listen for and discern the will of God. At this time it is important to be not of things that are worldly. We need His presence today and not worldly presents.
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