Welcome to Hank’s Place – Advent December 13, 2020
At Hank’s Place, JESUS is the reason. He’s the reason for EVERY SEASON, for ALL things that are good and pure and wholesome, and true, honorable, just, lovely, commendable, worthy of praise. Right? (Phil 4:8)
December can be a depressing time for many Christians as we are assaulted by the marketing, the merchandizing — the santas, the elves, the penguins (even though there are no penguins at the North Pole). Here in Texas we even have inflatable snow covered cowboy boots and cactus for your front yard – at $100 a pop!
The greed on parade, coupled with a torrent of Christmas movies that have nothing to do with Jesus – can be a real downer. One year, filled with irritation, I even spray painted a Christmas tree BLACK, and placed it in my front yard – decorating it with white lights. It’s how distressed I was, seeing a dark dark world with only us Christians as lights glowing here and there. Thankfully I’ve looked up and seen Jesus a bit more clearly since then!
Here’s a pinch of history. December 25th was first designated Christmas in 320 AD by Pope Julius I – to counteract the excesses of the Saturnalia celebrations in Europe dating from pre-Jesus times. But people went right ahead with their revelry and celebrations – choosing to repent afterward!
The drunkenness, debauchery – evil – had reach such levels that by Pilgrim times Christians loathed Christmas, considering it an instrument of the devil for sin. When the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth in 1620, they outlawed Christmas. Anyone caught celebrating was subject to arrest and fines. Congress continued to meet on Christmas Day up to 1856.
Christmas in America was celebrated pretty much only in the church, and there as a subdued acknowledgement of our Savior’s birth.
THEN – in 1822 “T’was the Night Before Christmas” was penned by Clement Clark Moore portraying Christmas as a joyous family affair, especially for children. Christmas began taking on family life! And getting a life in public.
A few decades later Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” brought the wonder of the birth and life of our Savior to the world.
Gift giving was at first simple, but merchants soon took advantage – greed does leap at opportunities, doesn’t it? Soon santa and spending was everywhere. Soon Christmas was going downhill.
Well, just because the world twists and distorts good things doesn’t mean WE have to be depressed my friend! Jesus IS the reason for living, for joy, for family, for celebrating!
So, this Advent season, I suggest – you decorate! Why not decorate – yourself – with Christ! It’s based on Gal 3:26 “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
Because we are sons of God, we can, and should, really, clothe ourselves with Jesus. He is our appropriate dress every day.
May people see that we belong to Him simply by looking at us. Our behavior. Our loving. Our compassion. Let them see us — adorned with Jesus. It’s Good News to the world!
Throw off that mantle of depression NOW; clothe yourself with Christ — and COME ALIVE!
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