Daily devotion – Christmas table discussion and guest
Mic 5:2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”
We are just 1 month away from Christmas Day. The time of the year we traditionally celebrate the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ to a virgin mother called Mary in the little town of Bethlehem. It is such a beautiful time for all believers to again read and rejoice of God coming to rescue us from our sin and to do so in such an amazing way, born as a baby in Bethlehem.
Reading this morning’s West Australian newspaper, there was a large section telling people how to ‘enjoy’ Christmas this year! One comment said families were to make rules on what could or could not be spoken at the Christmas table gathering. To make the rule that no politics etc or religion be discussed…
When I first read that my emotions just lit up, “So you want to celebrate Christmas but not mention religion at all in any discussion?” I ‘stacked on’ other thoughts like, “Sure you want to celebrate the holiday of Christmas but not for any reason that we actually have this time whatsoever!”
After cooling down a little, I gathered my thoughts once again. A different and more biblical thought plan proceeded. Yes, we will agree not to discuss politics or religion if you wish. But religion has nothing in reality to do with Christmas. Christmas is all about Christ as we have been reading in John’s gospel so clearly. It was the religious leaders who railed in on Jesus, disliked Him so much that they set out to kill Him.
Often our discussions at Christmas with our families, where we attempt to witness to them begin and end up with us playing in the religious world of do’s, don’ts, and traditional and cultural beliefs. The end result is we miss the mark, no real meaningful discussion or connection is made and we blame our unbelieving family and friends for their hard hearts.
Let us learn from Jesus discussion with the religious leaders who wanted more signs, more documentation, and yet were blinded in their steeped religious views so much that they did not even know they were talking to the Son of God Himself!
The Bible teaches us 2Ti 4:2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
Remember Who it is that is the Word! Jhn 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
This Christmas make any discussion you have with a non-believer where you are seeking to share God’s love and grace with them, be only about Jesus Christ your Saviour and Lord. Talk about Him! Who He is. Why He came. How He lived and why He died.
Tell them that this Jesus Christ loves you and them and desires to bring grace, blessing and peace to their troubled lonely lives.
How faith in Jesus Christ can change their lives, how God will help them, comfort them and bring then the peace and happiness they are all searching for.
So yes, let us make some rules ourselves about what we should talk about at the Christmas table – let us make Jesus Christ the invisible guest, the real reason for Christmas, let Him be seen and heard in your actions and your words – let is only speak about Him and leave religion out of all discussion.
Gal 6:9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.