Thought for Today
“And when they were come into the house,
they saw the young child with Mary his mother,
and fell down, and worshipped him”
Matthew 2:11
Even though, in the past, I have not been a real enthusiast of any “season” (Please read: Grace for Others), I have become more aware of the spirit of the world endeavouring to discount its message and to denigrate its observance. I personally go out of my way now in my personal and business interactions with others to make mention of this season. I do this in spite of the fact that it is not the actual date of Christ’s birth, and in spite of the need to ignore the mixture with the fable of some jolly fellow who goes around giving gifts to all who have been “nice”. (In some convoluted way it portrays to a large extent the “gospel” of our day; if you are “nice”, God will give good gifts to you). The real truth of the Advent season is the gift of Christ Himself; His person, His Life and His majestic wonder. This may be the one time of year that some may hear His name in a story or a carol.
The three Magi came from afar; their journey was not an easy one nor a convenient one. They followed the heavenly sign and when they found Him, they immediately “worshiped Him”! The true worship of God comes from our seeing of Him. May we be worshipers in our hearts and give freely as we have freely received. His unspeakable Gift to us is one that we can never repay; but that is the purpose and the nature of any true gift.
Σ
“Glory in the highest places to God,
and upon earth peace among men of good will”
Luke 2:14
(Wuest Translation and the literal Greek rendering)
Brian Troxel
If Narnia can be a representation of Jesus Christ, there’s no reason St.Nicholas can’t be. I’ve always found it odd how christians can justify one example of metaphor in secular things while denying others.
May the Peace , Love and Joy that comes by way of Jesus Christ be with you and yours this Christmas season and beyond Brian.
If Narnia can be a representation of Jesus Christ, there’s no reason St.Nicholas can’t be. I’ve always found it odd how christians can justify one example of metaphor in secular things while denying others.
May the Peace , Love and Joy that comes by way of Jesus Christ be with you and yours this Christmas season and beyond Brian.
I was saddened to read this post. The Word makes it clear that we are to teach His Church the difference between the holy and the profane. God’s Word is clear that He hates mixture of any kind, be it seeds, beasts, etc. He clearly states that He hates our traditions. The Christmas tradition is totally ungodly, having originated in Babylon and then taken up by the Catholic Church to control the masses. God loves Righteousness and Holiness and the Christmas traditions are neither of those. May God forgive you and deliver all those who read your post who have been, or will be led from the Lord, to the vain traditions of mankind instead away from them as was commanded by the Lord. May God have mercy!
Moderation!. Right! water it down if you like Brian, but God knows every word of it.
Moderation!. Right! water it down if you like Brian, but God knows every word of it.
I was saddened to read this post. The Word makes it clear that we are to teach His Church the difference between the holy and the profane. God’s Word is clear that He hates mixture of any kind, be it seeds, beasts, etc. He clearly states that He hates our traditions. The Christmas tradition is totally ungodly, having originated in Babylon and then taken up by the Catholic Church to control the masses. God loves Righteousness and Holiness and the Christmas traditions are neither of those. May God forgive you and deliver all those who read your post who have been, or will be led from the Lord, to the vain traditions of mankind instead away from them as was commanded by the Lord. May God have mercy!
I am normally not one to post comments to any site. I know how to partake of the holy and reject the vile. But today’s message was a heart breaker for me. I write this in the love of God….as constructive criticism not destructive. Please accept it as so.
I was grieved over today’s message on “Christmas”. Anyone who is seeking truth can easily find the roots of “Christ-mas”, and it is absolutely all from Babylon and was part of why the world was destroyed by the flood .(As it was in the days of Noah so will it be preceding the destruction by fire.) The Scriptures repeatedly call us out of Babylon.
Luke 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
I could write a book on this subject using Scripture and history showing how it is a pagan abomination before God.But there are already plenty of those who have done so. There is no lack of evidence available to all who seek truth. The problem is that so many who profess to desire only truth have already closed their minds to truth in order to partake in this highly esteemed paganism. To try to identify our precious, all holy, all sacrificing Savior with paganism is grievous beyond words. We teach our children truth and then the “priests” (leaders) come along and try to root out what we planted in them, be it by their words or by their examples. Our young who are being tempted to partake in this ritual of the season are enticed to throw aside truth that we have so lovingly and prayerfully sought to instill in them, and run after the shepherds who have chosen the broad way which is idolatry. May God cause us to understand the seriousness of this.
Then, apart from these other facts from Scripture and history, may I take a moment to share the pain I experience every year at this time as I see “Christians” squandering their finances on gifts to those who already have an over abundance of this world’s goods…often gifts that are returned to stores by the receivers, or tossed aside….while much of the Christian world lives in extreme poverty….often little more than a life long manger scene of dirt floors and grass roofs. I know, I have worked among them for many years. Seeing the two extremes, I realize how far we are from living by the teachings and examples of the apostles of our Lord. May God awaken us.
I have chosen to end this with a section I copy/pasted from your recent post.
“By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward”
Hebrews 11:24-26
“…the priests rule by their own authority;
and my people love to have it so”
Jeremiah 5:31
The result is a poor and impoverished church which lacks power, vitality and the raising up of the Body of Christ through the development of their own ministrations. This arrangement will not alter the accountability of each individual unto God for themselves. His Word is clear and our Day of giving an account of how we lived our lives unto Him remains true and unchangeable.
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men”
2 Corinthians 5:10-11
I am normally not one to post comments to any site. I know how to partake of the holy and reject the vile. But today’s message was a heart breaker for me. I write this in the love of God….as constructive criticism not destructive. Please accept it as so.
I was grieved over today’s message on “Christmas”. Anyone who is seeking truth can easily find the roots of “Christ-mas”, and it is absolutely all from Babylon and was part of why the world was destroyed by the flood .(As it was in the days of Noah so will it be preceding the destruction by fire.) The Scriptures repeatedly call us out of Babylon.
Luke 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
I could write a book on this subject using Scripture and history showing how it is a pagan abomination before God.But there are already plenty of those who have done so. There is no lack of evidence available to all who seek truth. The problem is that so many who profess to desire only truth have already closed their minds to truth in order to partake in this highly esteemed paganism. To try to identify our precious, all holy, all sacrificing Savior with paganism is grievous beyond words. We teach our children truth and then the “priests” (leaders) come along and try to root out what we planted in them, be it by their words or by their examples. Our young who are being tempted to partake in this ritual of the season are enticed to throw aside truth that we have so lovingly and prayerfully sought to instill in them, and run after the shepherds who have chosen the broad way which is idolatry. May God cause us to understand the seriousness of this.
Then, apart from these other facts from Scripture and history, may I take a moment to share the pain I experience every year at this time as I see “Christians” squandering their finances on gifts to those who already have an over abundance of this world’s goods…often gifts that are returned to stores by the receivers, or tossed aside….while much of the Christian world lives in extreme poverty….often little more than a life long manger scene of dirt floors and grass roofs. I know, I have worked among them for many years. Seeing the two extremes, I realize how far we are from living by the teachings and examples of the apostles of our Lord. May God awaken us.
I have chosen to end this with a section I copy/pasted from your recent post.
“By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward”
Hebrews 11:24-26
“…the priests rule by their own authority;
and my people love to have it so”
Jeremiah 5:31
The result is a poor and impoverished church which lacks power, vitality and the raising up of the Body of Christ through the development of their own ministrations. This arrangement will not alter the accountability of each individual unto God for themselves. His Word is clear and our Day of giving an account of how we lived our lives unto Him remains true and unchangeable.
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men”
2 Corinthians 5:10-11
I am trying to get my Web person on this ASAP. Thank you for the warning.
Blessings
BT
I am trying to get my Web person on this ASAP. Thank you for the warning.
Blessings
BT