Monday; December 16


          One of the more common signs seen this time of year is a reminder to “Keep Christ in Christmas”.  For some people, the holiday season has become too commercial and too secular.  Their hope is that by focusing on the earthly birth of Jesus, the Christ, we can make better sense of the season.  As I got to contemplating this statement, it promoted another one for me – Keep Christ in Christian.  We live in a world that often loses meanings too easily and the term Christian has become a causality of the casual way many people understand the term.  To some, “Christian” has become a way of describing a national belief system.  To others, it has taken on a political meaning.  Some use it to describe a social ministry while others see it as a derogatory term for an outdated way of thinking.  Yet, the truth of the word is in its simple definition – a disciple (or a follower) of Jesus, the Christ.  It is about being genuinely dedicated to following the teaching and the lifestyle of the Jesus (also known as “Christ”) in the Bible.  It isn’t merely acknowledging the presence of the historic presence of Jesus in the world, it is placing Him on the throne of our lives.
          The New Testament writer, John, describes Him in this way, “... the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood — and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father — to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever.” (Revelation 1:5-6).  Are we willing to accept that this is the Christ of Christianity?  If we aren’t, we are participating in a vain (useless) exercise; however, when we do, we have a reason to live – not only just during the holiday season, but 365 days a year.
Think About It!

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