External, superficial customs

It is three days after Christmas Day, and in my devotions time this morning I was led to this verse Romans 12:2

Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed)  by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

During the school holidays our children have been staying up a bit later in the evening. They have watching many of the 'Christmas' movies on TV which have been running for the past 2 weeks. Not one of the 10 movies they have watched centered around the real meaning of Christmas, Jesus birth.  I can't recall any of them even mentioning Jesus. Perhaps they should be known as 'Santa' movies!

I am not a big TV watcher, but whilst doing ironing early on Christmas Day, at 6am, I did stumble upon a program entitled, A Wise Man?  It was a very interesting look at the first Christmas from the eyes of one of the magi, and is presented in an everyday Australian setting. Such a shame it was on at 6am and wouldn't have had nearly the audience that the 'Santa' movies had. But well done to those people who made the movie, and those who contributed funds so that is could be aired at all.

This 'Santa Christmas' TV programming, coupled with the fact that it was very difficult to find any mention or display of Jesus birth in any shops' decorations shows just how far our world has moved away from the real meaning of Christmas. It seems that in today's' world, certainly in Australia anyway, the church is now primarily the only place you will find a mention of Jesus in relation to Christmas. 

When your senses of sight and sound are being bombarded with these non-Jesus 'Christmas' messages, it can be very challenging to 'not be conformed to this world, [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs].

For myself, I find it is a time when I need to be reading God's word more and more, sharing God's word more and more with our children, so that Jesus remains at the center 

of our celebrations. And then questioning what we are doing to celebrate the wonderful event of God's son coming to earth. Are we as a family getting too caught up in external, superficial customs? Definitely some soul searching to be done there!

As the sign outside of some churches says, Jesus is the reason for the season. I thank God there are some people bold enough to get the truth of the matter out there into the world!

Why not take a few moments post the Christmas celebrating to reflect on your own Christmas customs? Are there enough to help you remember that Jesus is the reason for the season?

Looking away

Some days I find myself looking away from Jesus. I find myself getting distracted from the real purpose and meaning of life. During my devotions this week Hebrews 12v2 reminded me of where I should be looking, 

Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and Source of our faith [giving first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Some days it is so easy to start looking toward people and things. It is so easy to start problem solving in my own strength and then have everything come crashing in a heap! Because my strength is not enough. My wisdom is incomplete. My grace in insufficient. 

Rather it is Jesus 'Who is the Leader and Source of our faith'. It is Jesus who is the strength. It is Jesus who is the wisdom. It is Jesus who is grace. It is Jesus who I should be looking to, not looking away from.

Jesus, please forgive me for looking away from you, when rather I should be looking to you. Thank you for your strength, wisdom and grace that is sufficient. 

Is there an area in your life where you have been looking away from Jesus? Is there an area in your life that really needs His strength, wisdom and grace? Why not ask His forgiveness and accept all the help He wants to give you today? Jesus is the Leader and Source of our faith.

No dissensions or fractions

And here is another challenge ...

God is faithful (reliable, trustworthy, and therefore ever true to His promise, and He can be depended on); by Him you were called into companionship and participation with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. But I urge and entreat you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in perfect harmony and full agreement in what you say, and that there be no dissensions or fractions, or divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in your opinions and judgements. 1 Corinthians 1:9,10 (AMP)

What does it take to be "perfectly united in our opinions and judgements"? How do we know that our opinions and judgements are in line God's plans and purposes. Some might say that this is very tricky ground. And it is! Unless of course as the the previous scripture says, we are in 'companionship and participation with His Son.'  When we are living a life in Jesus, grace, love, wisdom and discernment are hopefully just some of the fruit we bear. This fruit, in combination with the leading and power of the Holy Spirit, should be helping us to move towards that position of perfect harmony and full agreement.

So there lies the challenge, are we living life in Jesus, allowing His grace and love to penetrate every are of our lives? Let's search our hearts today, and ask God to show us where we need to surrender more to Him, so we can keep moving towards perfect unity in Jesus Name.