Thought for the Month...
Hi guys, I was reading the Bible and a thought occurred to me about this month so I thought I would share it...perhaps these additions to the website will be regular, perhaps not. I'll let God decide. So...
December.
Ok, so as we all know December is the Christmas Season - Twelve Days of Christmas and all that - all centred around Jesus, right?
By the way, if you are a kid or you believe in Santa Claus, you'd best not read ahead...
First, let's start with the meaning of Christmas: Jesus. Or so we are told. Personally I do not see Him about so much as I'd like, and I seem to be seeing an awful lot more of that Saint Nick fellow...
I mean, it's not like I'm against the idea of a jolly, large guy giving out free presents to all the little girls and boys out there - don't get me wrong - and I did actually figure out how there could be a Santa Claus, IF God wanted one: basically, we are to believe that angels can have extraordinary powers, right? Thus, Santa Claus could easily be an angel, delivering free presents (though obviously, he doesn't deliver many since the parents feel like they have to BUY the presents first, hide them, and let Santa get all the credit - which, with all that lack of faith in him, no wonder he can't be bothered). Of course, however, an angel cannot possibly be a saint, since saints are Christians and angels cannot be Christians (because they can't be saved by Christ - as far as I am aware - since He did not die for them).
Anyway, getting to the point...the reason why the coming of Jesus is SUCH a big deal is because of His sacrifice for us on the cross, to take away the punishment we deserve for our sins. Not only this, but His coming into the world followed a LOOOONNG period of time without any word from God at all (imagine a church without hearing from God on a daily basis? Crazy, right?). This is seen in Micah 5:3-5:
‘Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labour bears a son, and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites….And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be our peace.’ In case it isn't clear, we are His brothers who join the Israelites. The one born is Jesus. Also, Micah 7:4 says: ‘The day God visits you has come, the day your watchmen sound the alarm.' This speaks for itself…maybe out of context, but watchmen for us could mean people who start the celebration of Christmas (though VERY loosely since watchmen usually has other connotations instead). Other connotations you could make is that maybe the angel Gabriel was a watchman who sounded the alarm when Jesus arrived by telling the shepherds. Usually not much gets me excited about Christmas personally, because I feel used to it and it can feel like we never move on with the story and get to the really important bit...but that is just me - and these Bible quotes have done it for me a lot more this year :) so, good!
Oh and returning to Santa, another point that can be derived from the idea is that it IS good to give - either time or effort or gifts - whatever the Holy Spirit prompts you to give. Furthermore, it is good to give cheerfully, for I remember a Bible quote that said 'God loves a cheerful giver' or something similar...and not to give out of reluctance or compulsion. Bear in mind that I say this to myself most of all! (But I rarely worry about giving if I don't feel like it....). So, everyone find a way to be giving this Christmas (and why leave it at that or until then?) and retrieve what has been lost...the image of Santa Claus can then become more about giving and less about receiving.
God bless, and Merry Christmas!
Brother Jason :)
By the way, if you are a kid or you believe in Santa Claus, you'd best not read ahead...
First, let's start with the meaning of Christmas: Jesus. Or so we are told. Personally I do not see Him about so much as I'd like, and I seem to be seeing an awful lot more of that Saint Nick fellow...
I mean, it's not like I'm against the idea of a jolly, large guy giving out free presents to all the little girls and boys out there - don't get me wrong - and I did actually figure out how there could be a Santa Claus, IF God wanted one: basically, we are to believe that angels can have extraordinary powers, right? Thus, Santa Claus could easily be an angel, delivering free presents (though obviously, he doesn't deliver many since the parents feel like they have to BUY the presents first, hide them, and let Santa get all the credit - which, with all that lack of faith in him, no wonder he can't be bothered). Of course, however, an angel cannot possibly be a saint, since saints are Christians and angels cannot be Christians (because they can't be saved by Christ - as far as I am aware - since He did not die for them).
Anyway, getting to the point...the reason why the coming of Jesus is SUCH a big deal is because of His sacrifice for us on the cross, to take away the punishment we deserve for our sins. Not only this, but His coming into the world followed a LOOOONNG period of time without any word from God at all (imagine a church without hearing from God on a daily basis? Crazy, right?). This is seen in Micah 5:3-5:
‘Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labour bears a son, and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites….And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be our peace.’ In case it isn't clear, we are His brothers who join the Israelites. The one born is Jesus. Also, Micah 7:4 says: ‘The day God visits you has come, the day your watchmen sound the alarm.' This speaks for itself…maybe out of context, but watchmen for us could mean people who start the celebration of Christmas (though VERY loosely since watchmen usually has other connotations instead). Other connotations you could make is that maybe the angel Gabriel was a watchman who sounded the alarm when Jesus arrived by telling the shepherds. Usually not much gets me excited about Christmas personally, because I feel used to it and it can feel like we never move on with the story and get to the really important bit...but that is just me - and these Bible quotes have done it for me a lot more this year :) so, good!
Oh and returning to Santa, another point that can be derived from the idea is that it IS good to give - either time or effort or gifts - whatever the Holy Spirit prompts you to give. Furthermore, it is good to give cheerfully, for I remember a Bible quote that said 'God loves a cheerful giver' or something similar...and not to give out of reluctance or compulsion. Bear in mind that I say this to myself most of all! (But I rarely worry about giving if I don't feel like it....). So, everyone find a way to be giving this Christmas (and why leave it at that or until then?) and retrieve what has been lost...the image of Santa Claus can then become more about giving and less about receiving.
God bless, and Merry Christmas!
Brother Jason :)
