No Silent Night?

(12.21.21– ’Tis the Season –Luke 12:51-52)

My friend, may I ask you a question? Did Jesus come to this earth to disrupt, divide and cull out? Did He not come to make everything better?

My friend, Life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.

I'm M. Clifford Brunner.

On the way home from the store the other day I got behind a car in traffic that was one of those cars you can't help but notice. It was a hatchback plastered with nearly a dozen bumper stickers right across the hatch window. And, right smack in the middle was the familiar bumper sticker, "Jesus is the Reason for the Season!" "Good!" I thought. "He's got Christmas right." Then, it suddenly struck me: was the birth of our Savior in a lonely manger stall two thousand years ago nothing more than an advertisement like some brand preference? You know, "Try God Because He's More Satisfying!" Or, "God Rules! The devil doesn't!" In some ways many Christians have turned Christmas into a competition. We see the world and how it has tried to "steal" the "true meaning" of Christmas from us and we react. And, in so doing, we ourselves may begin to lose sight of the real meaning of Christmas. Christmas is more than a preference for Christ over Santa Claus or a Christmas Eve worship service over a visit to the local pub. Why did Jesus come to earth at Christmas time? How should we, as Christians, value and commemorate that visit?

The fact is, Jesus came to this earth to disrupt, divide and cull out. He did not come to make everything better. Jesus was on God's mission to expose sin, to make war on it. He came to divide. His purpose was to divide those who believed from those who didn't. It was a division that was beneficial because it would result in something better, something holy. Jesus came to put two teams on the playing field that would definitely be opposed to one another. There would be no peace between these foes. The battle would be intense, physical and at times, painful. It was for this battle, this final competition between the devil and those who believe on Jesus Christ, that He came.

As we celebrate Christmas it's good to be reminded that Jesus didn't come to make it possible for families to gather together and exchange gifts. He didn't come to provide a peaceful snowy setting for carolers or church bells. These are but expressions of thankfulness and joy that we as Christians are moved to do because of what our God has done for us. Jesus came to bring war to the planet; to tear apart the sinful fabric of the world. It would never be the same again. In John 9:39 Jesus says, "For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind." Jesus came because of us. Jesus came because of our sin, our deprived state. The reason for the sea- son; Jesus is the reason for our joy. Our sin is the reason for the season. As we give thanks and praise to God this Christmas for His greatest gift, may we remember that the Christmas star was a foreshadowing of Calvary's, cross. There really was no “silent night.”

We pray. Heavenly Father, as we celebrate Christmas it's good to be reminded that Jesus didn't come to make it possible for families to gather together and exchange gifts. He didn't come to provide a peaceful snowy settings for carolers or church bells. Lord, remind us that these are but expressions of thankfulness and joy that we as Christians are moved to do because of what You have done for us. Jesus came to bring war to the planet; to tear apart the sinful fabric of the world. Forgive us Lord when we forget that Jesus came because of our sin. As we give thanks and praise to You this Christmas for Your greatest gift, may we remember that the Christmas star was a foreshadowing of Calvary's, cross. There really was no “silent night.” In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.

If you have a special prayer request, please send your request to ”This Passing Day!”

<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.

No Silent Night?

(12.21.21– ’Tis the Season –Luke 12:51-52)

My friend, may I ask you a question? Did Jesus come to this earth to disrupt, divide and cull out? Did He not come to make everything better?

My friend, Life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.

I'm M. Clifford Brunner.

On the way home from the store the other day I got behind a car in traffic that was one of those cars you can't help but notice. It was a hatchback plastered with nearly a dozen bumper stickers right across the hatch window. And, right smack in the middle was the familiar bumper sticker, "Jesus is the Reason for the Season!" "Good!" I thought. "He's got Christmas right." Then, it suddenly struck me: was the birth of our Savior in a lonely manger stall two thousand years ago nothing more than an advertisement like some brand preference? You know, "Try God Because He's More Satisfying!" Or, "God Rules! The devil doesn't!" In some ways many Christians have turned Christmas into a competition. We see the world and how it has tried to "steal" the "true meaning" of Christmas from us and we react. And, in so doing, we ourselves may begin to lose sight of the real meaning of Christmas. Christmas is more than a preference for Christ over Santa Claus or a Christmas Eve worship service over a visit to the local pub. Why did Jesus come to earth at Christmas time? How should we, as Christians, value and commemorate that visit?

The fact is, Jesus came to this earth to disrupt, divide and cull out. He did not come to make everything better. Jesus was on God's mission to expose sin, to make war on it. He came to divide. His purpose was to divide those who believed from those who didn't. It was a division that was beneficial because it would result in something better, something holy. Jesus came to put two teams on the playing field that would definitely be opposed to one another. There would be no peace between these foes. The battle would be intense, physical and at times, painful. It was for this battle, this final competition between the devil and those who believe on Jesus Christ, that He came.

As we celebrate Christmas it's good to be reminded that Jesus didn't come to make it possible for families to gather together and exchange gifts. He didn't come to provide a peaceful snowy setting for carolers or church bells. These are but expressions of thankfulness and joy that we as Christians are moved to do because of what our God has done for us. Jesus came to bring war to the planet; to tear apart the sinful fabric of the world. It would never be the same again. In John 9:39 Jesus says, "For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind." Jesus came because of us. Jesus came because of our sin, our deprived state. The reason for the sea- son; Jesus is the reason for our joy. Our sin is the reason for the season. As we give thanks and praise to God this Christmas for His greatest gift, may we remember that the Christmas star was a foreshadowing of Calvary's, cross. There really was no “silent night.”

We pray. Heavenly Father, as we celebrate Christmas it's good to be reminded that Jesus didn't come to make it possible for families to gather together and exchange gifts. He didn't come to provide a peaceful snowy settings for carolers or church bells. Lord, remind us that these are but expressions of thankfulness and joy that we as Christians are moved to do because of what You have done for us. Jesus came to bring war to the planet; to tear apart the sinful fabric of the world. Forgive us Lord when we forget that Jesus came because of our sin. As we give thanks and praise to You this Christmas for Your greatest gift, may we remember that the Christmas star was a foreshadowing of Calvary's, cross. There really was no “silent night.” In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.

If you have a special prayer request, please send your request to ”This Passing Day!”

<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.