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Ring of Truth provides 366 daily ‘proofs’ that the Bible is consistent throughout from Genesis to Revelation, and relevant for our lives today!
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3 John 11
“Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does evil has not seen God.”
Christmas Day.
The Eternal Word became flesh and dwelt for a while among us (see John 1:14). We have been shown what to imitate. As you celebrate Yeshua’s birth today, think not only of His miracle birth, but also of His sinless life.
The fact that He came to give us a glimpse of God Himself. To reveal the heart of Father. Be challenged once more about what you imitate.
The Christmas Tree; the stockings; the ham, turkey and trimmings; the crackers and Father Christmas. The T.V. programmes we sit back and watch as we relax.
Yes, it is good to celebrate. It is right to celebrate but we need to check up on what we are celebrating and how we celebrate.
The Children of Israel celebrated whilst Moses was on the mountain with God, but they were celebrating a golden calf and holding an orgy (see Exodus 32). That is not what Christmas is supposed to be about. We are not to imitate the world. Many people get so caught up in all the trappings and trimmings that not only do they miss the whole point, but worse still end up hopelessly in debt, drunk or worse.
Why is it there are more cases of suicide over Christmas – the season of goodwill and peace – than at any other time of the year? Because relationships get strained or loneliness becomes most acute. We should be at our most vigilant this time of the year, to not only care for our family and friends but for our neighbours, the poor and the destitute.
Have you invited a ‘foreigner’ to lunch today or will it just be a ‘close family only’ affair?
Don’t imitate the world. Don’t imitate evil. Imitate good. Imitate God. God gave all He had for you and me. He emptied Heaven by sending His One and Only Son Jesus, to this poor, tiny, independent, selfish, rebellious world. To show us what unconditional love is all about.
He wants us to imitate Him. Yes, it will be different, yes it will be radical and yes, it will be challenging and strange to others – but what is more important – our self- gratification or God’s desire? The Bible constantly challenges us to check our values. God wants us to stop and take stock.
The enemy keeps us so busy that we can’t stop and think because he knows that if we do, we will be able to ‘see through’ his deceit.
The Good News is that as we imitate what is good, we feel good, we bless others and God blesses us in return. If we do evil, we feel unfulfilled, exhausted and guilty.
Jesus has come. What can be more exciting than following and imitating the Son of God? As we become more and more like Him, we become more and more fulfilled.
Have you seen God today?
Remember – we are so often self-centred. (Even at Christmas.)
God is ‘others-centred’. (All-year-round.)
Today, will you determine to start and continue imitating Him in that?
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