It's Not Your Birthday!

This is the season that we are suppose to be recognizing and celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. However, by all accounts, many gift givers haven't considered putting Jesus on their list.

Matthew 2:10-11

God inspired this tradition of gift giving when He directed and guided the wise men to the location of Jesus as a young child. The birth of Jesus represents a change in the ages. The measurement of time in our culture is separated into BC and AD. BC means Before Christ, and AD means after His Death and Resurrection. Jesus lived upon the earth in flesh, a mere 33 years, but in that time, He changed all of life for an eternity.

The first Christmas "presents" really were birthday "presents". God provided for Jesus, by sending these wise men with valuable gifts that Joseph and Mary could use to provide for their family. The wise men brought Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh. They did not bring toys and gifts of pleasure and indulgence. God knew that He would be directing Joseph and Mary to take the young Jesus into Egypt for His protection, a journey that would require some resources .

Modern day Christians and the world have turned Christmas into a time to exchange gifts of pleasure and indulgence with each other. It is way past time that we reconsider our ways when it comes to Christmas. It' s Not Our Birthday! Maybe it's time that we put the Christ back into Christmas, and begin to sacrifice our traditions and desires for the cause of Jesus Christ. Maybe it's time for us to put Jesus at the top of the list, and better yet the only one on the list.

Let's come to church to worship Jesus, and bring all the Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh to the church that it might be used in the service and missions of the church. Christmas needs to be a time of sacrificial giving by the body of Christ, to the body of Christ for the work of our Father. Well maybe not literally, Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh, but the modern day equivalents. These items were the currency of the day used in trade. We would all be better off if we sacrificed the money we spend on the many gifts given and put that into our offering we present to the Lord. It is His Birthday, and after all, maybe we need to bring him the presents.

Forever, For Always, For Jesus!

Jesus is coming again!

J.W.O.S. Spread the Word.

Rev. Brian K. Shobe