Jeremiah

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NASB	Jeremiah 10:1 Hear the word which the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel.
AMPLIFIED 2015	Jeremiah 10:1 Hear the word which the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel.

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Subject: Christmas

Bible Note: My brother: I agree with you completely.

I view Christmas the same as Sunday. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. What I find interesting is the reasons that people give for what they do, for the way they exercise the freedom that they perceive God has given.

Is it wonderful that God has given us this freedom? With it comes a responsibility. I think he says that we should use our freedom to benefit one another. For, brethren, we have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love, serve one another.

For myself, I observe Thanksgiving with all my might because I cannot count the scripture passages saying we should give thanks. I do not celebrate birthdays because I do not see it done among God’s people in Scripture. To think of God having a birthday every year, the God who inhabits eternity, seems ludicrous to me. The fact that he became flesh and dwelt among us is a wonder I will never get over, and I ponder it, then entire length of it, every day of my life. Yet a very dear brother of mine used to pray, “From the bottom of my heart I want to say, 'Happy birthday, Jesus'”. I thought “…”. But I never said anything to him.

As far as I know I have no right or duty to abridge another man’s freedom. But I think each one of us should question ourselves. Are we doing this because we want to? Or are we doing it because someone other than Christ has foisted it on us. The answer comes perhaps in the activities that constitute our celebration. Why the tree? Why the lights? Why the tinsel? I was once shocked to find myself singing to a tree: “O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree”. I stopped. But I understand that some of my brethren can justify it. If we have reasons for what we do, then they may serve to guard us against the next religious invention.

Taleb is correct about the names days of the week, is he not? But we are stuck with them, just as most of us are stuck with the name of the street we live on. How would you like to live at 666 Devil’s Lane? There are some things we may decide to live with. And then there are things we voluntarily take on. It may be because we want to do more and more to please God, I suppose. We need to be careful, I think, that whereas we claim freedom we are actually making ourselves slaves to the ways of the world. Were you a slave when you were called? That shouldn't bother you. However, if you have a chance to become free, take it.

But God has not left it up to us to decide what we should remember and celebrate and do. He tells us what he wants. That is why we remember his death. He said "This do". That is why we preach the Gospel. He said, "Go ... and preach the Gospel". That is why we baptize new believers. He said, " ... baptizing them in the name of the Father ...". Are we free to add other sacraments and celebrations ad infinitum to our liking whether or not the Lord requires them? That is the question.

Since we have so much freedom, why not use it in the area that God has suggested? Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good works. Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out in times of need.