This Christmas...

I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Friday morning, 16th December 2022, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. 

If we start in the Book of Isaiah:

“Learn to do good;
Seek justice,
Rebuke the oppressor;
Defend the fatherless,
Plead for the widow.”
Isaiah 1:17

Then we go to Micah 6:8:

“He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
(Number 1) But to do justly,
(Number 2) To love mercy,
 (Number 3) And to walk humbly with your God?”

As we see the Christmas season approaching, this is when we are to produce the fruits of the Spirit as followers of Jesus Christ. We are to display an attitude that brings glory to God - not the attitude of “I am alright Jack” or self-preservation. That's not what Jesus is looking for in us. It is a time to 'be Jesus' to a hurting, suffering, lost, fearful and confused world.  

Romans 1:17, one of my favourite verses, says:

“The just shall live by faith.”

The righteous shall live by faith. Remember, faith has got feet. Faith is a doing word. This Christmas time, don’t tell people that you love them but show them that you love them. Remember, charity always begins at home. Now for the young people listening to this message, charity is an old-fashioned word which means love - Love begins at home. I know some young people listening to this message want to go out into the world and preach the Gospel to the lost but Jesus said, “We are going to start in Jerusalem” - that is your home, then Judea, then Samaria and then the outer ends of the world. This Christmas, we have got to 'be Jesus'.  

Now, I can hear somebody saying, “I am not looking forward to this Christmas because my family are all coming home and Uncle John when he comes, he just never, ever stops speaking.” Remember, John has lost his wife, he lives by himself, he is very lonely and he is just so excited to be able to talk. What about Aunty Mary? She is always complaining! Aunty Mary just never stops complaining! Ja, but you don’t realise that Aunty Mary is battling with a very sore back. She has got knees that are packing up and she is always in pain. Be kind to Aunty Mary.

What about those naughty children that are coming this Christmas? They never, ever behave themselves, they are like terrorists. They are just tearing the place apart. Be kind to them this Christmas because you see, mom and dad have got a problem in their marriage and they are so busy trying to sort it out, they are neglecting their children.

This Christmas, let us 'be Jesus' to our families!
God bless you and goodbye.