Some food for thought
Well, the world didn't end on the 21st. Christmas came and went, and the new year is rapidly approaching, where we start the whole thing all over again. There's always a tinge of optimism and hope that the new year will be better than the old. We make resolutions we don't keep. We're finally gonna get around to taking that trip, to call or see this or that person, or whatever that thing is you keep putting off, but the time files and before you know it, you're faced with the whole thing all over again.
I had an interesting conversation this morning with a friend of mine. Over coffee, we had an opportunity to chat about Jesus, more from a historical context than anything, and like I did last year at this time, I'm going to address some remarks to the "keep Christ in Christmas" crowd.
I want to start off by reiterating something I've said before. No matter what your belief system is, when Jesus came to Earth over 2,000 years ago, he changed everything. Nothing on this planet has been the same since. That's pretty significant. Other men have left marks on the time they lived in, but no one person has changed the world like Jesus did.
As you're boxing up the decorations, keep that in mind.
If Jesus wasn't who He claimed to be, then there is no point in Christmas, nor Christianity for that matter. The thing is that there are so many historical facts that Jesus lived and so much testimony from eyewitnesses that saw Him after the resurrection. One of the biggest pieces of evidence to the resurrection, at least to me anyway, is the Roman soldiers. For Roman soldiers admitting to sleeping on duty would have meant their death unless they were paid off and protected. I think that particular part of scripture is telling. I also think the story of Thomas, who doubted until he saw Jesus himself is compelling evidence. The Resurrection is the basis of Christianity and there's eyewitness testimony to support it.
My friend and I had a good conversation on this topic and I think it's an important one. We talk about our faith, we proclaim ourselves as Christians (a great deal of us, anyway!), but I wonder if we stop to think sometimes about what that faith is based on. I believe because I've seen God at work in my life, and I'm convinced by His Word that things are the way they've been described. But I worry about my friends who will box up the nativity scene and pretty much pick up where they left off. I worry because I used to be that kind of a Christian, and when I found the Truth, I found out I was anything but what I claimed to be.
I think the end of the year is a good time for all of us to take stock of things, and I'm hoping that this is at the top of your list: What is your relationship with God?
Oh, one more thing: The whole "organized religion sucks" argument is a bad one. We're told we need to worship together in the Bible, among other things. Churches are full of sinners who need a savior and disagreements are bound to happen because we're humans. But corporate worship is important. Having a church family is important, and more important than the silly arguments some of us (like me three years ago) make against going to church.
That argument is bull, friends. Just sayin'.
I hope you'll take some of this to heart and ask yourself about your walk. What do you believe? Why do you believe it? I'd also encourage you to pick up a good "Bible in a Year" reading schedule and stick to it. It's amazing what you'll find in the Bible. I mean that. And it's amazing how you can read a passage of scripture and really have it touch your heart.
Well, gang, that's all for today.
Blessings to you all.
I had an interesting conversation this morning with a friend of mine. Over coffee, we had an opportunity to chat about Jesus, more from a historical context than anything, and like I did last year at this time, I'm going to address some remarks to the "keep Christ in Christmas" crowd.
I want to start off by reiterating something I've said before. No matter what your belief system is, when Jesus came to Earth over 2,000 years ago, he changed everything. Nothing on this planet has been the same since. That's pretty significant. Other men have left marks on the time they lived in, but no one person has changed the world like Jesus did.
As you're boxing up the decorations, keep that in mind.
If Jesus wasn't who He claimed to be, then there is no point in Christmas, nor Christianity for that matter. The thing is that there are so many historical facts that Jesus lived and so much testimony from eyewitnesses that saw Him after the resurrection. One of the biggest pieces of evidence to the resurrection, at least to me anyway, is the Roman soldiers. For Roman soldiers admitting to sleeping on duty would have meant their death unless they were paid off and protected. I think that particular part of scripture is telling. I also think the story of Thomas, who doubted until he saw Jesus himself is compelling evidence. The Resurrection is the basis of Christianity and there's eyewitness testimony to support it.
My friend and I had a good conversation on this topic and I think it's an important one. We talk about our faith, we proclaim ourselves as Christians (a great deal of us, anyway!), but I wonder if we stop to think sometimes about what that faith is based on. I believe because I've seen God at work in my life, and I'm convinced by His Word that things are the way they've been described. But I worry about my friends who will box up the nativity scene and pretty much pick up where they left off. I worry because I used to be that kind of a Christian, and when I found the Truth, I found out I was anything but what I claimed to be.
I think the end of the year is a good time for all of us to take stock of things, and I'm hoping that this is at the top of your list: What is your relationship with God?
Oh, one more thing: The whole "organized religion sucks" argument is a bad one. We're told we need to worship together in the Bible, among other things. Churches are full of sinners who need a savior and disagreements are bound to happen because we're humans. But corporate worship is important. Having a church family is important, and more important than the silly arguments some of us (like me three years ago) make against going to church.
That argument is bull, friends. Just sayin'.
I hope you'll take some of this to heart and ask yourself about your walk. What do you believe? Why do you believe it? I'd also encourage you to pick up a good "Bible in a Year" reading schedule and stick to it. It's amazing what you'll find in the Bible. I mean that. And it's amazing how you can read a passage of scripture and really have it touch your heart.
Well, gang, that's all for today.
Blessings to you all.
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