What do you think of when you hear Christmas carols playing softly in the background?
What comes to mind when you read the story of baby Jesus and the singing hallelujah angels?
I asked two of my sons, what message would they give to people at Christmas time. One said to tell people not to give young children ipads or tablets (smile) and the other said…peace and doing good for people. Yes, peace and goodwill. That is what we all want for the world at Christmas. That is what the angels were singing ” Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is well-pleased.” Luke 2:14 AMP.
BUT, did Jesus come to bring peace to all mankind?
Do not think that I have come to bring peace on the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword [of division between belief and unbelief]. Matthew 10:34 AMP
Huh, when we think of Christmas we think of tinsel, christmas trees, presents, food, baby Jesus but not a sword!
We gloss over the not so good parts of the Christmas story. We focus on the tiny king baby laying perfectly still in a straw filled manager and forget about the nauseating smell of cow dung wafting over from the next stall.We highlight the angels singing and the wise men worshipping and cut out the evil king killing all boys under two in Bethlehem. (Matthew 2:16)
Many believers have been sold a lie and are believing for a comfortable life. Jesus never came to usher in a comfortable lifestyle.
No, he came to draw up the battle ground.
“People look for a degree of worldly comfort in Christ’s service which they have no right to expect, and not finding what they look for, are tempted to give up religion in disgust. Happy is he who thoroughly understands, that tough Christianity holds out a crown in the end, it brings also a cross in the way.” J C Ryle
You are either in the Kingdom of God as a believer or you are in the Kingdom of satan as an unbeliever. There is no middle ground. In the rest of Matthew 10, Jesus expounds on the division that comes in a family because of Him. Father against son, son against father. Mother against daughter and daughter against mother. Have you experienced this type of division in your family because of Jesus?
Where does your loyalties lie? with pleasing your family and friends or pleasing Jesus?
Jesus’ message 2,000 years ago is the same today – “Take up your cross and follow me! Matt 10:38”
Let’s not leave out the remainder of verse 38 – “He who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.”
Are we living courageous lives for God? or do we cower in the background not wanting anyone to get upset with our beliefs and in the end extinguishing the light that God has given us to carry into our environments?
Action Step: Pray asking God to strengthen your heart and give you a peculiar boldness this Christmas to preach in season and out of season the reason for your faith in Him.
“Preach the word [as an official messenger]; be ready when the time is right and even when it is not [keep your sense of urgency, whether the opportunity seems favourable or unfavourable, whether convenient or inconvenient, whether welcome or unwelcome]; correct [those who err in doctrine or behaviour] warn [ those who sin], exhort and encourage [those who are growing toward spiritual maturity] with inexhaustible patience and [faithful] teaching.” 2 Tim 4:2 AMP
Keeping leaning into God and finish 2018 well
Rachel Larkin
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