As the world around us pauses to celebrate Christmas and recognize the birth of our savior Jesus Christ, we see it as a season of joy, love, and giving. Joy comes from knowing we can be saved through Christ. We experience God’s love in the greatest gift ever given: Jesus Christ.
One of the songs commonly sung this time of year is, “Deck the Halls”:
Deck the halls with boughs of holly, Fa la la la la…!
‘Tis the season to be jolly, Fa la la la la la…!
Holly is associated with Christ because the thorns represent the suffering of Jesus from the crown of thorns placed on his head as he sacrificed himself. The red holly berries represent his blood shed for us. It’s the season to be jolly or happy because salvation is now freely available to all who obey the gospel.
“Tis the season” is a catch phrase for all kinds of things but during this season let’s consider this as a time to reflect on our relationship with God.
Have you put on Christ in baptism? Are you falling short of the mark of being the Christian you should be?
Acts 24:24-25 says,
And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. (KJV)
As far as we know that “convenient season” never came for Felix.
Tis always the season to think about Jesus and our relationship with him. Does it cause you to fear and tremble like Felix did or to feel jolly/happy for your salvation?
Tis always the season to train your heart with God’s word and follow through with living your life so that thoughts of Jesus are happy thoughts, not thoughts of fear and trembling.
For the Elders, Gary Woodall