Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
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. |
Subject: Christmas |
Bible Note: It is such an uncomfortable time for some of us, this time of the year. It is somewhat like holding our breath till it all passes. We do not know how to respond when people speak to us of Christmas, or speak across our faces to each other. Most often we smile or grunt or say, “God bless you”. But now and then we say something, knowing it is not popular. But we feel we would be failing the Lord if we refrained. Some of us want to say, as followers of Christ, that Christmas does not fit. It is not of God and has nowhere, to our knowledge, earned his approval. But we do not want to contribute to an argument, or even a discussion. We want to say simply that Jesus never celebrated his birth and never asked us to do so. We want to say that there is no record in the Bible of believers having done it. We feel no need to do it. We wonder why we have adopted a pagan practice and tried to offer it to God. We fear we may have turned again to the weak and beggarly elements. When the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because we are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father”. Wherefore you are no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Howbeit then, when we knew not God, we did service unto them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that we have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn we again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto we desire again to be in bondage? We observe days, and months, and times, and years. But some of us will let it be known, for what it is worth, we do not submit to that bondage. We do not observe days, and months, and times, and years. We will let our brethren know that we stopped celebrating Christmas when we found out about the origin of the practice of it, and of the practices within it. Nor do we celebrate the new year. We would not debate with those who do, for “he that regarded the day regarded it unto the Lord”. These trembling souls wanted only to make this statement. We are not willing to answer questions concerning this. We will not even answer who “we” are for fear that it would pit us against “them”. We wanted to make this statement wile maintaining the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. It took all our energy to choose our words carefully, and we post this here in the hope that the Lord will use it for his glory. |