Christians and Christmas

But the following night The Lord  stood by him and said: "Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome." Acts 23:11

Paul returned to Jerusalem and just as it had been prophesied the Jews took it upon themselves to attempt to kill him. The Roman commander at the barracks endeavoured to protect him but the Jews wanted him dead.

He was almost scourged by the Romans but when they discovered he was also a Roman they stopped, as a Roman was not scourged but rather dealt with by legal means.

The scene that played out was almost a repeat of Jesus' arrest. Again the angry Jews wanted him dead for teaching a different truth, a freedom they did not know but as well Paul preached to Gentiles. A Jew had nothing to do with Gentiles.

I am sure the Jews thought thee motives pure, for the Law of Moses had been strict about the purity of their faith towards God. Yet when the new came, when their saviour came and did not fit the mould they killed him. Now a disciple of Jesus had come, not fitting the mould and they wanted to kill him.

Religious zeal is dangerous. We can be religious about how we think others should behave as Christians, as parents, siblings, friends and if others fail to fit the mould we break our relationship with them.

Passion for Christ does not kill. There is only one destroyer and he works in the sons of disobedience to destroy not only them but others as well.

You might say:" I am not disobedient, they are!" Then if Jesus said:"love your enemies", then where does this anger and hatred come from?

Christmas brings out the worst in people. We have expectations that are not met and we fight and maim those we claim to love. This ought not be so.

If we are struggling with attitude then we need to go to the cross for a new heart. What would Christ want? That all men might be saved.

Christmas is not about us or our expectations. Let us go to Him and allow His desires to become our desires and have a change of focus.
Amen!

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