December 13th 2015
Happy Holiday Is Fun Because Of Presents; Merry Christmas Is Joyful Because Of Presence!
Matthew 18:19-20 (NIV)
"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
The motto for the season should be l-o-v-e not s-a-l-e! This slogan is being used by a group of stores, and these stores were closed on Thanksgiving Day to emphasize their chosen slogan. Likely a smart move to attract evangelical Christians, and let us pray it was sincere and shows some belief that this company may have a better perspective on this season. An ad for Walmart on TV showed children shopping, and they actually wished the viewers a Merry Christmas! It makes me wonder if some of the work of Christians to not say Happy Holiday but instead to say Merry Christmas is actually beginning to have some positive effect?
A toy store is advertising for children to buy a toy, and then, to give it to some child who will receive few if any Christmas gifts. There are interviews with these children and they are joyful to buy a toy as a gift for someone they do not know, but believe they will receive little if any gifts at this Christmas time. In the book of Acts we find a description of such a thought process. “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’" (Acts 20:35) Such a thought process while Biblical is possibly not inspired by the Bible, but let us not give up on doing good, and in someone, or some company, being impressed by our good deeds!
If someone hits you hit them back! This is not a Christ-like reaction! In the USA today we are fighting many battles against bullying, it is rampant in our schools, and in our society as a whole. Recent reports are confirming bullying is taking place on social media, and has caused much unrest and could result in young people trying to commit suicide. This tendency is spawned by people not being taught respect for other people’s rights. Paul wrote about not only to respect people you believe are your friends, but to even be good and do good deeds for those who are our enemies. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:19-21) As Paul tells us evil can only be overcome by good!
Paul wrote about what our attitude should be about other members of mankind, and that we should try to not condemn other people because they may do something different than we do. As Christians we should be concerned about other people, and not do anything that they disapprove of in their presences. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall. So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin. (Romans 14:21-23) Paul writes that “everything that does not come from faith is sin.” Many people do not really ever think of anything they do as being a sin or sinful. There are many people who have no faith, so they cannot identify with what Paul wrote. However, if you claim to be a Christian take heed of what Paul believed and wrote!
Now back to the Good News of this season! During this Advent season followers of Jesus Christ should have no problem in being hopeful as we are once again celebrating the birth of the Christ child. This birth was not of the normal variety as His mother was a virgin. This was the first step of a plan that ends with this baby being the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all members of mankind. Most people in this world today do not accept this Christmas story as being true, and thus, they miss the real reason for the season. The Christ child was born into this world as the perfect sacrifice for ALL of mankind; thus He is the perfect gift from God for all of mankind. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time. (1 Timothy2:5-6)
If anyone is reading this commentary, and you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, please consider accepting His offer of paying the price of your sins, and of Him being “the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men.” Your ransom has been paid you have been set free, now that is the greatest gift of all! If you do not regularly attend a church of your choice, why not attend this week for as the selected verse puts it, “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." The presence of the Lord is by far the most wonderful present you can receive during this or any season!
Read about this promise of Jesus Christ as amplified by Paul. That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9) You will be saved not because of anything you can do in this lifetime. This is gift of grace given to any member of mankind who claims it! This is the Christmas gift that Jesus left behind when He left this earth. He is going to return to this earth someday, and all those who claimed this free gift will be with Him forever! We will be with God on the new earth when it is created. Now that certainly is the greatest gift of all!
Paul states it the best. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15)
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Matthew 18:19-20 (NIV)
"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
The motto for the season should be l-o-v-e not s-a-l-e! This slogan is being used by a group of stores, and these stores were closed on Thanksgiving Day to emphasize their chosen slogan. Likely a smart move to attract evangelical Christians, and let us pray it was sincere and shows some belief that this company may have a better perspective on this season. An ad for Walmart on TV showed children shopping, and they actually wished the viewers a Merry Christmas! It makes me wonder if some of the work of Christians to not say Happy Holiday but instead to say Merry Christmas is actually beginning to have some positive effect?
A toy store is advertising for children to buy a toy, and then, to give it to some child who will receive few if any Christmas gifts. There are interviews with these children and they are joyful to buy a toy as a gift for someone they do not know, but believe they will receive little if any gifts at this Christmas time. In the book of Acts we find a description of such a thought process. “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’" (Acts 20:35) Such a thought process while Biblical is possibly not inspired by the Bible, but let us not give up on doing good, and in someone, or some company, being impressed by our good deeds!
If someone hits you hit them back! This is not a Christ-like reaction! In the USA today we are fighting many battles against bullying, it is rampant in our schools, and in our society as a whole. Recent reports are confirming bullying is taking place on social media, and has caused much unrest and could result in young people trying to commit suicide. This tendency is spawned by people not being taught respect for other people’s rights. Paul wrote about not only to respect people you believe are your friends, but to even be good and do good deeds for those who are our enemies. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:19-21) As Paul tells us evil can only be overcome by good!
Paul wrote about what our attitude should be about other members of mankind, and that we should try to not condemn other people because they may do something different than we do. As Christians we should be concerned about other people, and not do anything that they disapprove of in their presences. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall. So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin. (Romans 14:21-23) Paul writes that “everything that does not come from faith is sin.” Many people do not really ever think of anything they do as being a sin or sinful. There are many people who have no faith, so they cannot identify with what Paul wrote. However, if you claim to be a Christian take heed of what Paul believed and wrote!
Now back to the Good News of this season! During this Advent season followers of Jesus Christ should have no problem in being hopeful as we are once again celebrating the birth of the Christ child. This birth was not of the normal variety as His mother was a virgin. This was the first step of a plan that ends with this baby being the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all members of mankind. Most people in this world today do not accept this Christmas story as being true, and thus, they miss the real reason for the season. The Christ child was born into this world as the perfect sacrifice for ALL of mankind; thus He is the perfect gift from God for all of mankind. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time. (1 Timothy2:5-6)
If anyone is reading this commentary, and you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, please consider accepting His offer of paying the price of your sins, and of Him being “the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men.” Your ransom has been paid you have been set free, now that is the greatest gift of all! If you do not regularly attend a church of your choice, why not attend this week for as the selected verse puts it, “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." The presence of the Lord is by far the most wonderful present you can receive during this or any season!
Read about this promise of Jesus Christ as amplified by Paul. That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9) You will be saved not because of anything you can do in this lifetime. This is gift of grace given to any member of mankind who claims it! This is the Christmas gift that Jesus left behind when He left this earth. He is going to return to this earth someday, and all those who claimed this free gift will be with Him forever! We will be with God on the new earth when it is created. Now that certainly is the greatest gift of all!
Paul states it the best. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15)
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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