The build-up and anticipation of Christmas is unequaled in our country! As is often said, “The preparation for Christmas seems to get earlier and earlier each year.” Indeed, Christmas is a very special holiday and one that many folks prepare for throughout the whole year. But, what about the days after? Is there a let-down? After all the planning and performing of cantatas as well as children’s plays, buying and wrapping gifts, preparing for company and meals, taking family photos, and celebrating firsts (marriage, children, house, job), is all over, how will you handle the days and the weeks after?
- Begin today in God’s Word reading it with the same passion as you did all the “Christmas passages.” Memorize other portions of the Word of God with the same fervor as you did to memorize Luke 2:1-20. Read books about the life of Christ beyond the cradle with the same zeal as you did all the Christmas books. Read them to your children, and make Christ’s life BIG to them every day!!
- Live with a daily anticipation of the next biggest day of your life as a believer—the Rapture & the Bema (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:11-14; 12 Corinthians 5:10).
- Enjoy singing songs of praise and worship to our God all the other months of the year with gusto and joy on your face as you did the carols of this season (Psalm 96:1-9).
- Be a giver today as you were on Christmas (Acts 20:35).
- Open up your home for family and guests today and into next year (Romans 12:13; 1 Peter 4:9).
- Walk in the same grace today that was sufficient yesterday as you dealt with the “tug in your heart” over that special person that was not here this Christmas season (2 Corinthians 12:9).
- Be as energetic today about the gospel as you have been prior to December 25 (Philippians 1:27).
2 Peter 1:3-8
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Photo: Steven Lawson)
From A Pastor's Heart 