Who remembers the anticipation of our favorite Christmas movie to be played on network TV? How eagerly we waited to watch Lucy trick Charlie Brown or to watch Snoopy glide so effortlessly across the ice?
As I've gotten older, I find myself getting caught up in the commercialism of Christmas, just like Charlie Brown's friends did in 1965. However, it is getting more and more difficult to find the message of Christmas purely stated in the mainstream media these days. I thought we could all enjoy listening to Linus give the Christmas message once again.
Let's take our example from Linus and make sure we share the message of Christmas with others this season.
"But this will be your opportunity to tell them (your persecutors) about Me (Christ Jesus)." Luke 21:13 NLT
Simple, powerful Truth. You reference Luke 21:13 NLT to establish your point of giving your own testimony. Not only is that our responsibility and honor to share the message of Christmas, which is Christ, but it is a KEY to being ready for HIS coming return. Look at what the scriptures around Luke 21:13 say:
ReplyDelete9 "When you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end does not follow immediately."
10 Then He continued by saying to them, "Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom,
11 and there will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.
12 "But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name’s sake.
13 "It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony.
14 "So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves;
15 for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute.
16 "But you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death,
17 and you will be hated by all because of My name.
18 "Yet not a hair of your head will perish.
19 "By your endurance you will gain your lives.
Again, thank you, Kathy, for reminding us to get ready and stay ready for His Return, and we can start NOW by having our own testimony about Him