CHRISTMAS IS HEART MATTER

CHRISTMAS IS A MATTER OF THE HEART

Thursday, December 12, 2013

            John 1:12-13 But as many as received Him, He gave to them authority to become the children of God, to those who believe on His name, 13 who were born, not of bloods, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but were born of God.

1John 3:18-21 My children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 19 And in this we shall know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him, 20 that if our heart accuses us, God is greater than our heart and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not accuse us, we have confidence toward God.

  What in the world does today’s above Scripture selections have to do with Christmas?!

  Considerable.

  For many Christmas is interpreted by lights, gifts, tinsel, and entertainment.

  Christmas means Christ-adoration, worship.

  One Christmas involves hustle, bustle, and stress.

  Authentic Christmas is product of peace; said peace heart-centered in confidence toward God.

  Confidence toward God is inseparable from authentic Christmas.

  Without heart confident in and by godliness, Christmas is mere pagan yuletide holiday.

  In all the busyness of season, I encourage you to take time to read John’s entire (5 chapters) family letter to the Father’s John 1:12 children.

  It took me 16 minutes without rushing to read 1John aloud this morning. What else will I do this day that will take 16 minutes of my life but be comparatively insignificant? How many other things will I do that have little or nothing to do with authentic Christmas?

  Truly, authentic Christmas is a matter of the confident heart.  EBB4