Dear brothers, everyone must have realized that the posts I have been writing in December have been focusing on the holiday season and on issues related to the fact that 2020 is coming.
I believe the title of this post could not be more self explanatory. Particularly, I love Christmas for several reasons. It is a date when we remember the birth of Jesus (even though no one knows precisely the correct date). It’s vacation time. Time to reunite with family. Time to enjoy good times with the people we love.
Gift giving
In my family we have a tradition of exchanging gifts. And I know this is a common practice in many other families in the world. I do not see this as an obligation, but a time where I am very happy to be able to give gifts to people that are important to me. Yes, I love receiving gifts. But surely my greatest pleasure in these moments is much more in “giving” than “receiving”.
However, as with everything else, the world has managed to misrepresent even the act of giving gifts. A beautiful gesture was turned into something without limits. Christmas ends up being remembered as a date of pure consumerism, unfortunately.
Why do we give presents for Christmas?
No one knows for sure when or where this custom began. The most accepted idea is that we presented each other in reference to the men who presented Jesus at His birth with gold, incense, and myrrh. Others attribute the custom to such a bishop named Nicholas. By the fourth century, he was giving presents to needy families at the time of the birth of Jesus.
Regardless of where the custom began, it is easy to see that there is no attempt to break the true meaning of Christmas by giving gifts. In fact, at the beginning of these practices all these things worked, say, purely.
Consumerism
The problem started over time. The tradition of giving presents has spread a lot. As it does with all other things, the world has corrupted an act that originated from something simple. “Giving” rather than “receiving” has been left a little aside. The pleasure of giving presents eventually mixed with the unbridled desire for material things.
This unbridled desire for material has been diluted in the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). The insane pursuit for gifts at this time of year has made the main reason for all this background. Writing for a Christian blog, I don’t think I need to stress that the focus should surely be on the birth of Christ.
Eyes in the right place!
The idea of this text, however, is not to make anyone stop buying gifts for Christmas. I am doing my shopping myself and I will still give my family gifts. But my intention is for all the brothers to think better about why we are running so much on this date.
Is our heart in the things we are buying, in the things we can receive, or is our attention in fact fixed on the birth of our savior and communion with our relatives for this remembrance?
Again, I don’t think the problem is giving people at Christmas. And the fact that our heart is not where it should be.
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. – Matthew 6:19-21
Children of God The Father of all creations, had it written to NOT CONFORM TO THIS WORLD. Children of Father God, appears to begin giving reasons and accuses.when participating with any or all of these man made consumption called holidays.
Word of Our Father God
“No accuse”
👌
My first time reading your blog and it hits me right in the heart,very well said Sir,thank you for the reminder
I…love it too
Keep celebrating what you don’t know and continue to take excuses. Not to stop tour idolatry who is Bishop Nicholas? Does the truth start with him why didn’t the Apostles celebrated the birth of Christ when he was still with them? Why only after the death of all the Apostles that we should start doing something that is no where in the Bible ? We will know the day of judgment.
As usual very well written. Thank you.
As usual very well written. Thanks again.
This is very true. We leave the reasons for Christmas, and persue our own selfish interests
Hi during this time the Lots is calling to all no matter what the situation to His truth and peace that is beyond our understanding. Guys are hurt and don’t know what to do. Cry out to the Lord and experience his response and love. Allow him to just love you over and over and change your life. Join others in the faith and learn and gain knowledge and understanding. Amen. Lobe you guys
Jeremiah 10:1-5
1. Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: 2. Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. 3. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. 4. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. 5. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.
https://bibliajfa.com.br/app/kjv_apocrypha/24O/10/1
Amen
Celebrating Christ should be our life style not a particular day. To give is a form of worship that we should do in season and out of season. It is true that there is no scripture that tells us to celebrate what is called christmas. There are festivals in the bible that we are given to celebrate. Man made things separate us from God. He says if you love Me do my commandments. Let us read the word of truth.
To celebrate Christmas just because its a time for family gathering and because people show up to church will not be excused when you stand before the King.
Its a lie and it’s deception which Christ would have nothing to do with
When people show up why not use that time to teach the truth? Aren’t we supposed to be about saving souls?
Well Said!
Thank you Marcelo. Hoping you and your family a wonderful Christmas. God’s Blessings on you and your family.
Many Christians don’t know what they are celebrating, they are celebrating lies that Roman Catholic told them, this Roman Catholic are the people who don’t know God neither Christ Jesus, Jesus was not born in December this is most fallacy in human history. The Bible say in St. Luke 1:26-38 how God sent an angel to the city of Galilee in the city of Nazareth, the Bible specifically gave the exact time the angel came to her, so, let’s assume that Mary took in that same month, Christians calculate from the sixth month to December, sixth month that’s means June, Christians do we now say that Jesus was born premature? We know that December period in Israel is always cold time and I believe that no shepherds will abide in the field at the time that Bible said angel appear to the shepherds who where keeping their flocks at night. Luke 2:8-14. So, base on this I strongly believe that Jesus was not born in December it heresies and lie from the pit of hell.
Except mountainous regions winter in Israel is mild. Temperature never drops below 10 °C (50 °F). Coast of the Red Sea in fact have some sort of summer with 23 °C (73 °F) of air and 20 °C (68 °F) of water. Except there is probability of rains but they most likely won’t affect vacation.
Weather between months of winter differs a bit. January is the wettest month. Water of the Red Sea cools down to 21 °C (70 °F) and the Mediterranean Sea has about 17 °C (63 °F). As it was mentioned above Israel at winter can offer even skiing of slopes of Hermon.
December in Israel:
Max average t°: +15 °C (59 °F)
Min average t°: +7 °C (44 °F)
Water t°: +23.5 °C (74 °F)
Sundial in the day: 8 hours
Rainy days: 2 days
Precipitation: 28 mm (1.1″)
Found here: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://seasonsyear.com/Israel&ved=2ahUKEwjV9pDKkbPmAhXPPM0KHWtVBmAQFjAJegQIARAB&usg=AOvVaw3-Ff5O_Z03rElspgIcr3Pn&cshid=1576258028165
Also, I have heard that December was what the Roman Catholics to be was the immaculate conception.
The fact of the matter is that God did not intend for us to know the exact date. He just wants us to know the event that took place in order to understand better His mercy and love for us.
2 Timothy 2:23-26
23 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.
24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.
Be blessed and have a beautiful holiday, using this time as a reminder of His love for us and, in turn, us loving others because of it.
This is wisdom. …Thanks
Dear the paragraph written by you, was a very nice .Everything you are talking about will be right .But we are remembering to celebrate birth of Jesus Christ on this particular day. We don’t need to know either this date comes in December or in other month.
Just focus on BIRTH day of our SAVIOUR CHRIST JESUS .
GOD BLESS YOU..
Hebrews 13: 5. Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
https://bibliajfa.com.br/app/kjv_apocrypha/58N/13/5
Jesus wasn’t born on Christmas..The sun god was…It clearly states in the bible not to put up a tree in your house & decorate it with silver & gold..#FACTS
The question is:
Does one follow the law of sin and death or the law of grace? If the law of sin and death then EVERY law must be kept so as not to be condemned. Please choose grace:
Titus 1:15
To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.
May wisdom be granted you.
You got it! Perfect!
Good evening dear,
I read your paragraph and wanna to know,
at where these verses are written in the Holy Bible . And 2nd you are talking about the trees are not kept in houses and should not be decorated.
My dear clearly read the word of God from Holy Bible then please reply me..
Marcelo is right of what he says about Christmas, and yes the bible says about how idolaters people decorates this trees and worship them in their houses…..
The commercial people it’s taking advantage of this time to make money and for you be paying the credit cards the rest of the year…
And for you to forget the real meaning of this time.
But its except to us to believe to our own convenience….let us judge ourselves !
It is quite unfortunate that many of us has forgotten the essence of Christmas and began to pursue material things, it is a season of sober reflection on the birth of our saviour Jesus Christ. He left his glory above and accepted to come and liberate mankind.
Well said
You hit the very true brother
Amen, Christ is truly the reason is the purpose of spiritual and natural life, and all of us must express the character of Christ!
Powerful
Thank you for that simple reminder
Amen..100%
Insightful.
Indeed, Jesus Christ is the reason for the season😇 to the writer, God bless u more abundantly in life☺️
Happy Birthday to our Lord Jesus
Sorry Jane But Jesus never told anyone to celebrate Christmas because of him. And if you study your bible very well you will know this.
Aside 1.Cor 11:24.
(And when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.”) Which is the Lord’s supper. Its sad the whole world is falling for this doctrine of men.