Good morning and happy Saturday. Another week has flown by. In fact, another year is nearly gone. I do hope that you can recognize the many ways that God has been and is working in your life. It is an important part of maturing in Christ to take a little (or a lot) of time periodically and examine how you are doing in your walk with Christ. It is a practice that I have been seeking to do for years. Yeah, I know, I should be doing a lot better than I am. Anyway, as you do a bit of introspection you will discover areas that God has helped you to grow in and other areas that are in need of improvement. Hopefully, as you grow, most areas will need a tune up or refinement and not drastic changes like when you first became a Christian. Whatever the case, it is reassuring that “He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it.” I encourage you to allow Him to continue to mold and make you in the image of Jesus.
The other day I was listening to Christmas songs on the radio when the old time song, “Here Comes Santa Claus” came on. It may have been the version by Gene Autry but I’m not totally sure. However, as I was singing along to that catchy little tune (which would have been painful to anyone nearby), some of the words caught my attention. In the song, one line says, “So hang your stockings and say your prayers ‘cause Santa Claus is coming tonight.” Then, near the end, there is this: “Peace on earth will come to all, if we just follow the light. So, let’s give thanks to the Lord above ‘cause Santa Claus comes tonight.” According to Wikipedia, which may or may not have the accuracy or validity of the Al Jazeera News network, “Autry’s lyrics combined the two veins of the Christmas tradition, the mythology of Santa Claus and the Christian origin of the holiday (most explicitly in its mention of the nativity promise of ‘peace on Earth’).”
Admittedly, it is a fun song to sing along to. However, for those that know the true meaning of Christmas, it seems kind of weird to be saying our prayers because some fictional character is not going to actually come. More than that, even after the true pronouncement of the peace that is available, giving thanks to the Lord, not for the Savior, but because the fat dude with presents is supposedly coming. Yes, I know it is just a song. It is not meant to teach on the biblical meaning of Christmas. It was written to sell records, which it did quite successfully. Nevertheless, it should cause us to at least pause and reflect upon our own Christmas traditions. Beyond that, all of our Christian traditions. How much of what we do is found in the Bible? How much is cultural? Is our faith influencing the world or is the world influencing our faith? Have we unwittingly adopted things that are actually contrary to God’s Word? It seems that we have come full circle here. Again, I think it is important to examine our lives individually and even collectively as the church. Does that mean we can’t have fun? Of course not. What it does mean is that we continually, “seek to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and forever!”
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2)
Hope to see you tomorrow, ‘cause he knows whose been naughty or nice.
Love God. Love others. Impact our community. Change the world.
Pastor Larry
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