Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Making Something Else Ultimate

This thought was brought to my attention by one of my favorite pastors, Matt Chandler. Check out the church he pastors and his podcast if you would love to listen to some solid teaching

Look around and see if you see any of the following this Christmas season - The falsehood of the following statement, "The reason for the season is family and friends"

Directly or indirectly we often times make something else ultimate, rather than Jesus Christ. Now I agree with spending time with family and friends during Christmas and it is a great thing and a thing that should be pursued and planned for. What I don't agree with is making a bigger deal out of your time with family - than your time acknowledging the grace that has been given to us through Jesus Christ our Lord. When we acknowledge Christ as ultimate and make Him primary at Christmas and all through the year - our time with family and friends can be an extension and a reflection of that grace you have been given. When we fail to do this, I believe that we are drifting into the area of idolatry? I believe we can make anything an idol....a relationship, money, our comfort, and even family and friends. Anytime we exchange the truth about God for something else (Rom. 1:25) I believe idolatry is committed.

Friends this Christmas season and all the year through - please make Jesus Christ ultimate and by making Him ultimate extensions of your life such as family, friends, vacations, work, money, comfort, Christmas parties - will then be seen as grace rather than replacing it (grace).

No comments: