Keeping Christmas
Based on Zechariah 5-8, Revelation 19
"Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother: and oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart." Zechariah 7:9-10
Reading this verse reminded me of another classic theme of Christmas: the spirit of giving. Who couldn't relate that to the story of A Christmas Carol with Ebenezer Scrooge!? This is one of my favorites, not only at Christmastime, but year-round...because the end of the story is not really an end, but the beginning of a new life...that's because Scrooge learned how to keep Christmas in his heart. Instead of "imagining evil against his brother in his heart" as the Scripture says, and wanting to "decrease the surplus population" as it says in the story, Scrooge learns not to oppress any longer, and to have mercy & compassion. I long to keep Christmas by keeping Christ at the center of my heart & life, and by having a more giving heart this coming year!
"Thus saith the LORD of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the LORD of hosts." Zechariah 8:4-6
The old and the young, together, filling the streets & cities...playing & having fun...again, reminds me of a scene right out of A Christmas Carol...and reminds me of a kind of peace that's hard to find nowadays...sadly, in our world, it's hard to keep Christmas...the peace & joy fades with each new tragedy...but that's only if we are depending on this world for happiness! If we depend on Jesus with a "God bless us, everyone!" mentality like Tiny Tim, then we surely can keep Christmas...because Christ is on the throne of our hearts!
"And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great." Revelation 19:5
written by
Gina Pietrzak
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