Christmas

There are several modern-day Gnostics who, in the name of Christ, seek to dissuade us from celebrating the birth of Jesus each December. They go to great lengths to enlighten us regarding the pagan associations of the winter solstice, the worship of Druid gods, and idolatry related to evergreen trees. They chide us, saying we are somehow playing into Satan’s insidious scheme by honoring the birth of Christ with our Christmas traditions. Don’t believe it. This old “guilt-by-association” argument condemning our celebrations of Christ must be examined from a biblical perspective (See Rom.14:1-6; 1Cor.5:9-10; 1Cor.8:4-6; 1Cor.10:25-30). To condemn our Christ-honoring praise for the incarnation each December because of some ancient pagan associations is as ludicrous as disallowing Sunday worship because “Sunday” was initially designated for the worship of “Sol” the Sun god. Historically Christians have rightly redeemed certain days, words and places for the worship of Jesus Christ. As Paul wrote when facing the critics in Corinth “Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, for ‘The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it’” (1Cor.10:25-26). So let us utilize all we can to bring glory, honor and praise to God for the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Time

The Bible makes a sweeping and comprehensive point when we are rhetorically asked, “What do you have that you did not receive?” (1 Corinthians 4:7). Consider the magnitude of that question. Scripture goes on to definitively clarify that the Source and Purpose of all the things we tend to feel so possessive of is in fact Jesus Christ himself – “all things were created through him and for him” we are told (Colossians 1:16). That undoubtedly includes time itself. Yet few things feel more “ours” than “our time.” But in reality it is not ours at all. As thoughtful Christians have always been careful to point out, we have no ability to make or retain time. We are transient recipients and stewards of each day and every hour. When we irrationally believe that our evenings, weekends or the years of our life are our own to spend as we please, we operate under a false pretense that will one day be suddenly dispelled. Recall how much of Christ’s teaching instilled the principle of accountability and stewardship. “Now after a long time,” Jesus continued to impress on his hearers, “the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them” (Matthew 25:19). Our time must be seen as a divine gift. It is not ours to spend, it is his, lent to us to invest for his glory and the advancement of his kingdom. So be wise and “make the best use of the time” (Ephesians 5:16) knowing from whom it comes.

For more sermons and devotionals on Time, please go to the Focal Point Ministries website at www.focalpointministries.org.