Jesus is the Centerpiece of Christmas

Our pastor was talking last Sunday about how hard it is to see the true meaning of Christmas in this day and time. From Times Square signage bought by American Atheists proclaiming that no one needs CHRIST this Christmas to the movies that talk only of elves and romance and presents, it looks as though Christ is being blocked out of the season altogether. 

But there are still manger scenes being erected in church lots and public buildings all over America. There are still people who know that Jesus truly is the Reason for the Season. I’m so thankful that when I walk the streets of our town a manger scene can be found in a storefront window. And Merry Christmas signs are still seen everywhere.

As I was thinking about my own collection of manger scenes and how I worked hard to make the lights on one display shine on the baby Jesus, God spoke to my heart.  How many nativities are set up where Jesus is behind the shepherd? As displays are observed is the manger itself placed outside the barn? Is the light shining brightest on Joseph or Mary or one of the Kings?  

If we’re not careful we will find ourselves settling for a personal faith that's been diluted by culture and other people's takes on spirituality. We’ll have a little Jesus off to the side of our lives and a lot of self-motivation and me right in the focal point. Only One King can be on the throne and only one Lord can be the center of our lives.  We will inevitably choose who is center – either ourselves or God.  We can even put family, work, spouses, friends and other things in the center but Jesus says He will share His glory, His rightful place, with no other.

God speaks again: If you will keep Me front and center in your life all other things will fall into place. As you look solely to Me for your needs, your wants and your desires you will find that I AM all you need.  When you put me off to the side of your life other things get mismanaged and become in disarray. Chaos ensues when you try to put yourself or anyone else but Me in the center of your heart and life. Feeling burdened by things or people or decisions or choices? Place Me back in My rightful place and see how it all will get back into focus.  I will redirect your path so that you can focus on Me everywhere you go.

Oh beloved, you are precious in the sight of the Lord. The Savior of the World has come and ransomed you from everything that can trouble you and seek to control your heart and mind. Look to Him for everything. Keep Him in the center of your life. His love and care are your nourishment. His Words are your guidepost. His precious promises are your reason for living. Don’t relegate Him to the background. Keep Him front and center and watch as He takes you where you could never go on your own and makes your life a shining example of His glory and grace.  He loves you and He’s for you and that’s why you want to keep your focus on Him all the days of your life.

Hebrews 12:2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterward. Now he is seated in the place of highest honor beside God's throne in heaven.

Deuteronomy 4:29 But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Psalm 9:10 Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

What a Day for Decisions! God Will Guide You!

He spied Danny doing bike blessings at a booth during a rally a couple of years ago. The two friends hugged and he asked Danny to go with him to meet a friend. “I’ve been telling her she’s got to meet you!”  He went on to explain that just like Danny had shared Jesus with him at another rally in eastern Arkansas, he now wanted Danny to share Jesus with a friend of his. He just knew that she’d jump at the chance to meet Jesus if she could just hear the truth. 

Danny was introduced to the young woman and they began to talk. Towards the end of the conversation, she explained something profound to Danny: “I believe this is all there is. When you die, you die and that’s it.” Of course Danny shared that we are all eternal beings, and we will spend eternity somewhere ---forever.  By not making a decision, she in fact was deciding her future.

The old biker friend shook his head. He just couldn’t believe someone would hear the Gospel so simply spoken and refuse it.  She went away still trying to convince herself that there is no “afterlife”. We still pray that those seeds planted will produce a harvest of faith in her life when someone else comes along and waters that seed with more Truth.

Our lives are full of decisions. From small decisions we make as children, such as which toy we want for Christmas on to adult decisions that carry bigger responsibility. Some decisions have little if any real consequences. Others, as we get older have monumental outcomes which will turn our lives in one direction or another forever.

Today is another incredible day for decision making.  We are making history like never before. I just pray, and I hope you do too, that God will not be writing our prologue, but that one of us will be writing about the greatest Revival ever seen. Right now we still have a choice; right now we still can make a difference. Today is all we have.

Oh beloved, run to the Author and Finisher of your faith! Let Him direct your decisions beginning fresh and new today! He cares about your past, so much that He made a way to redeem each and every one of your sorrows and wrong decisions. He cares about your present so much that He is eager to lead, guide and direct your every move today. He cares about your future so much that He’s made a way for you to live with Him forever. Not only that, He’s made a way today for you to live so there are no more regrets!

Thank Him this morning for His incredible gift of choosing you!  Thank Him too that you can now choose to walk in the light of His Word and live as an overcomer, victorious and confident in Him! What a Savior, what a Friend, what a King!

2 Timothy 1:12 I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until the day of his return.

Ephesians 1:4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes.

2 Corinthians 2:14 But thank God! He has made us His captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now He uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.

Psalm 34:22  But the LORD will redeem those who serve Him. No one who takes refuge in Him will be condemned.

Psalm 32:8  The LORD says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.”

Ephesians 1:7-8 He is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins. He has showered His kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.