From: Paul Gage
LIVING IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD DECEMBER 21, 2023
Greetings in the Name of the Most High God, the Father of
all creation, and the giver and taker of life, Merry Christmas!!
Merry Christmas! What does that phrase really mean? It
seems obvious that much of the world, even Christians are turning away from
anything that has to do with God. It is so easy to be influenced by things that
lead us away from the Way, the Truth and the Light. In school we used to have a
“Christmas Break.” Now it is “Winter Break.” It used to be very common for
everyone to say, “Merry Christmas.” Today, many companies have gone to “Happy
Holidays”, and it is not all just in the words. It is about changing minds and
then hearts of people to lead them away from God and the birth of His Son,
Jesus Christ.
So, what are we to do? One of our Christmas hymns, 105,
“When Jesus, Our Great Master Came,” gives us a very clear idea of how we
should be living in the Kingdom of God. “When Jesus, our great master came, to,
teach us in his Father’s name, In every act, in every thought, He lived the
precepts which He taught. So let our lips and lives express the holy gospel we
profess. So let our works and virtues shine to prove the doctrine all
divine.” The real challenge for Christians, at all times, is to “practice
or live what we teach or proclaim.
The school hymn for Center Place Restoration School has a
few lines that say, “Rise up and take a stand today, for righteousness and
truth, Lift high the flag of freedom now, MARCH ONWARD ZION’S YOUTH.” Well,
what does all this have to do with “Merry Christmas?”
The root word of Christmas is CHRIST! The power, plan and
purpose for Jesus being born is not contained to “the day” when he was
physically born. The purpose of his physical birth was to enable him to live as
we live, though he lived it with total perfection and obedience to the will of
the Father. Jesus came to earth in the flesh to reveal God to us more
completely and to let us know we have the agency to choose God as our Father.
Though we might receive many gifts at Christmas, have we
truly received the Greatest Gift of All and does it reflect in our daily lives
as we are seeking to “build up the kingdom of God and establish His
Righteousness?” If not, it would seem to be very difficult to have a “Merry
Christmas.”
God bless
Paul Gage
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Daily Devotional for January-April 2024 is
available on the CRE website All CRE events are also on the website.
eldersconference.org.
Saturday, January 6, 2024 CRE worship service at the
Stone Church in Independence, MO
Saturday, February 17, 2024 High Priest classes , for
all, at Waldo Avenue Restoration Branch. 9-1pm.
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