I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. Jo10.14 NKJV
When people speak of the spirit of Christmas, they often mean some very different things. "Tis the season to be jolly," or charitable or, perhaps they refer to some childhood wonderment associated with this magical season of the year. There are probably as many descriptions of the spirit of Christmas as there are presents under a rich man’s Christmas tree.
I should think that the Spirit of Christmas is none other than the Spirit of Christ, the very same Spirit Jesus sends to live in our hearts when we trust Him. The Spirit of Christ is the Holy Spirit and He is the means God uses to set us apart as His dear children. We often tell people they need to get into the spirit of Christmas, when truthfully it is the Spirit of Christmas who needs to get into them.
When a person is possessed by the Spirit of Christ they begin to possess all the distinctions of Jesus. He is not just the Savior, He becomes my Savior, not just the Lord, He becomes my Lord, my good Shepherd. 12/6/07 ts
Just me trying to be honest with God.
The Spirit of Christmas
I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. Jo10.14 NKJV
When people speak of the spirit of Christmas, they often mean some very different things. "Tis the season to be jolly," or charitable or, perhaps they refer to some childhood wonderment associated with this magical season of the year. There are probably as many descriptions of the spirit of Christmas as there are presents under a rich man’s Christmas tree.
I should think that the Spirit of Christmas is none other than the Spirit of Christ, the very same Spirit Jesus sends to live in our hearts when we trust Him. The Spirit of Christ is the Holy Spirit and He is the means God uses to set us apart as His dear children. We often tell people they need to get into the spirit of Christmas, when truthfully it is the Spirit of Christmas who needs to get into them.
When a person is possessed by the Spirit of Christ they begin to possess all the distinctions of Jesus. He is not just the Savior, He becomes my Savior, not just the Lord, He becomes my Lord, my good Shepherd. 12/6/07 ts
When people speak of the spirit of Christmas, they often mean some very different things. "Tis the season to be jolly," or charitable or, perhaps they refer to some childhood wonderment associated with this magical season of the year. There are probably as many descriptions of the spirit of Christmas as there are presents under a rich man’s Christmas tree.
I should think that the Spirit of Christmas is none other than the Spirit of Christ, the very same Spirit Jesus sends to live in our hearts when we trust Him. The Spirit of Christ is the Holy Spirit and He is the means God uses to set us apart as His dear children. We often tell people they need to get into the spirit of Christmas, when truthfully it is the Spirit of Christmas who needs to get into them.
When a person is possessed by the Spirit of Christ they begin to possess all the distinctions of Jesus. He is not just the Savior, He becomes my Savior, not just the Lord, He becomes my Lord, my good Shepherd. 12/6/07 ts
Show people to the door
Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers… I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. Jo10.7-9 NKJV
However intolerant this statement sounds, Christ has made it possible for a holy God to accept any sinner who comes to Him using the blood bought path of the cross. There was one entrance into the holy of holies, one door in the side of the ark, one Passover lamb, and one promised land. God has said it thousands of time and in a thousand ways, there is only one sanctioned way to approach Him. “Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father except through me.”
Such dogma is unpopular today and Christians are often referred to as intolerant and narrow minded bigots for believing that Christ is the only way to the Father.
I think that it is possible to express tolerance toward different religious views and at the same time humbly and gently express your own. Tolerance does not mean we compromise our faith but express loving patience with others who have a different view than our own. And, I do not mean condescending arrogance. I think Christians get into trouble when we start acting like judges when we are really called to be servants. Show people to the door and leave the judgment to God. 12/5/07 ts
However intolerant this statement sounds, Christ has made it possible for a holy God to accept any sinner who comes to Him using the blood bought path of the cross. There was one entrance into the holy of holies, one door in the side of the ark, one Passover lamb, and one promised land. God has said it thousands of time and in a thousand ways, there is only one sanctioned way to approach Him. “Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father except through me.”
Such dogma is unpopular today and Christians are often referred to as intolerant and narrow minded bigots for believing that Christ is the only way to the Father.
I think that it is possible to express tolerance toward different religious views and at the same time humbly and gently express your own. Tolerance does not mean we compromise our faith but express loving patience with others who have a different view than our own. And, I do not mean condescending arrogance. I think Christians get into trouble when we start acting like judges when we are really called to be servants. Show people to the door and leave the judgment to God. 12/5/07 ts
Show people to the door
Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers… I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. Jo10.7-9 NKJV
However intolerant this statement sounds, Christ has made it possible for a holy God to accept any sinner who comes to Him using the blood bought path of the cross. There was one entrance into the holy of holies, one door in the side of the ark, one Passover lamb, and one promised land. God has said it thousands of time and in a thousand ways, there is only one sanctioned way to approach Him. “Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father except through me.”
Such dogma is unpopular today and Christians are often referred to as intolerant and narrow minded bigots for believing that Christ is the only way to the Father.
I think that it is possible to express tolerance toward different religious views and at the same time humbly and gently express your own. Tolerance does not mean we compromise our faith but express loving patience with others who have a different view than our own. And, I do not mean condescending arrogance. I think Christians get into trouble when we start acting like judges when we are really called to be servants. Show people to the door and leave the judgment to God. 12/5/07 ts
However intolerant this statement sounds, Christ has made it possible for a holy God to accept any sinner who comes to Him using the blood bought path of the cross. There was one entrance into the holy of holies, one door in the side of the ark, one Passover lamb, and one promised land. God has said it thousands of time and in a thousand ways, there is only one sanctioned way to approach Him. “Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father except through me.”
Such dogma is unpopular today and Christians are often referred to as intolerant and narrow minded bigots for believing that Christ is the only way to the Father.
I think that it is possible to express tolerance toward different religious views and at the same time humbly and gently express your own. Tolerance does not mean we compromise our faith but express loving patience with others who have a different view than our own. And, I do not mean condescending arrogance. I think Christians get into trouble when we start acting like judges when we are really called to be servants. Show people to the door and leave the judgment to God. 12/5/07 ts
When in doubt don’t.
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” Jo8.12 NKJV
I have at times gone to bed after Brenda, only to grope around in the darkness, trying to find my way without tripping over or running into something. Doubt and uncertainty accompanies darkness or at least it should. When in doubt don’t, is a wise policy. Uncertainty should at least provide the certainty of needed caution.
Now Jesus is telling us that if we follow Him, His light will keep us from walking in darkness and certainly from walking in doubt. And, I should think that if the promise of light is true in those who follow Christ then our agreement even disagreement would shed light on many of the practices of our day. Wisdom would have us look and listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit in those who follow Christ. Where there is and has always been consensual agreement, there is certainty. But even in our disagreement there is the certainty of needed caution because light also reveals the edges of darkness. When in doubt don’t. We should also well remember the powerful warning, “If the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness.” 12/4/07 ts
I have at times gone to bed after Brenda, only to grope around in the darkness, trying to find my way without tripping over or running into something. Doubt and uncertainty accompanies darkness or at least it should. When in doubt don’t, is a wise policy. Uncertainty should at least provide the certainty of needed caution.
Now Jesus is telling us that if we follow Him, His light will keep us from walking in darkness and certainly from walking in doubt. And, I should think that if the promise of light is true in those who follow Christ then our agreement even disagreement would shed light on many of the practices of our day. Wisdom would have us look and listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit in those who follow Christ. Where there is and has always been consensual agreement, there is certainty. But even in our disagreement there is the certainty of needed caution because light also reveals the edges of darkness. When in doubt don’t. We should also well remember the powerful warning, “If the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness.” 12/4/07 ts
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