Coffee With The Lord

Christmas and then New Years… Two big days that bracket a holiday season!  For many people there is “prep time” for the big days!  For others there is travel time – going “home” to be with family or a journey to be with friends!  Hearts are filled with joyful anticipation (or perhaps for some, trepidation).

I don’t know why it is, but this season that comes with high expectations for joy, peace and satisfying relationship, sometimes degenerates into conflict, misunderstanding and pain.  I guess we could chalk it up to our own lack of self-management at times, but I sometimes wonder if there isn’t an evil saboteur at work to destroy relationships at a time like this (I call him Satan)!  And the tragedy?  Christians fall into his trap – the very people who claim as their two “great commandments,” Loving God and loving their neighbor (Matthew 22:38-40)!

So today in my Bible reading during “coffee with the Lord” I got this healthy reminder (and word of caution) from 2 John 4-5 that I think applies to this holiday season and other gatherings with family and friends:  “And now I ask you… not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning – that we love one another.”

We’re not just talking about feelings of affection here – we’re talking about a verb – something we act upon – something we do!  In some cases it’s going to take some “fruit of the Spirit” called “patience” and “self-control” (in other words it is something the Holy Spirit will help you to do – Galatians 5:22-23)!    

In fact, Apostle Paul’s challenge in another location comes to mind…  “Therefore I … beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.  Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.” (Ephesians 4:1-3)

Here’s praying you have a wonderful, Christ-centered holiday season, filled with the love, peace and joy that only He produces in our lives through the power of the Holy Spirit!

Today is Christmas Eve… Tomorrow Christmas!!!  Today’s “Coffee with the Lord” post is a sequel to yesterday’s post and is designed to fill the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day with wonderful reflection on the significance of the Lord Jesus Christ for all of life and beyond!!!

This was one of the passages in my Bible reading this week…

“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  Whoever has the Son has life!  Whoever does not have Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:12)

This Old Testament prophetic passage pointing to Jesus also came to mind…

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end!” (Isaiah 9:6–7)

Those passages got me thinking… The Jesus story… From eternity past into eternity future!!! … From a manger and beyond!

Here’s what I’m going to do beginning tomorrow… I’m going to reflect on each of the following themes about Him during the following week.  I’ll begin today Christmas Eve and end December 31 – What a way to prelude the New Year!).  Try it… I think your appreciation for the Eternal Son of God, our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ will be enriched and deepen!

1.  His eternality… His existence from “eternity past”

2.  His miraculous birth

3.  His sinless life and selfless ministry

4.  His redemptive death

5.  His victorious resurrection

6.  His exalted position to the Father’s right hand

7.  His promised return as “King of Kings and Lord of Lords”

8.  And finally, His eternal kingdom and universal reign

During this Christmas season I believe it is appropriate to ask just how important is Jesus?

I believe this morning I read God’s answer to this question in my Bible…

“And this is the testimony God has given about His Son:  God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5.11-12 NIV)

Based upon that, I’d say Jesus is pretty important to what Christmas is all about! … But more than that, He’s critically important to each of us every hour of every day of our lives and into eternity!  The quality of our lives here and now – and our life beyond the grave depend on Him! 

I don’t know about you, but I’m going keep my focus on Jesus… not just at Christmas (or Easter)!  I want Him to be central in my life every day in every way – now and forever!  He’s the real star of Christmas (and beyond)!