If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
— 1 John 1:9

I have spent the whole month of December recalling personal experiences surrounding Christmas from my childhood and exhorting you in the Word of God from those personal memories. But now it’s time to take inventory of this past year: what you accomplished that you promised yourself you would do — and what you didn’t accomplish. As you take inventory, you may find that you’ve made some progress but are still “in process” on some of the things you had promised you’d do this year. And, honestly, you may find that you need to ask God for forgiveness for not responding to things the Holy Spirit had prompted you earlier to change during this year.

Each year at a meeting that kicks off our New Year’s holiday, our Moscow team gathers for a wonderful afternoon celebration together, where we rejoice over the victories of the past year and share our vision for the upcoming year. Over the years, we also developed a tradition of handing out paper and envelopes — and we ask people to write down what they want God to do in their lives in the upcoming year. We’ve done this for so many years that everyone now comes prepared for what he or she is going to write on that piece of paper.

After the team members write down their goals, they insert that piece of paper into the envelope. I stand before all of our employees with my hands laid on those envelopes, and as a group, we pray over them. Afterward, all the envelopes are placed in a “safe” where they are not touched for a year — until the next New Year’s team celebration.

When we all gather the following year to celebrate, we take the envelopes out of the safe and redistribute them to those whose names are written on them. People quickly tear them open to see if they fulfilled what they believed God had told them to do a year earlier — or if they had fallen short of those goals. Often we hear praise reports of fulfilled victories; at other times people recognize that they are still in the process of fulfilling what they had written down. Some have to conclude that they wrote down hopes and dreams that were yet to be fulfilled.

I’ll be honest and tell you that for years, I wrote on my concealed piece of paper the goal of building a permanent home for our Moscow church. Year after year, I wrote it again, again, and again — never giving up on my confident expectation and my faith that God would enable us to actually own a permanent property for our church.

Like everyone else on our team, each year when envelopes are redistributed, Denise and I receive ours and open them to read what we wrote the year before. After the year-end celebration is finished, Denise and I have often gone to dinner by ourselves, where we share what we wrote down the previous year. Then we share with each other what was accomplished; what is in the process of being fulfilled; or even at times what we totally failed to do. It is a time when we hold ourselves accountable to the Lord and to each other. Sometimes it’s been a time of rejoicing. Other years we’ve repented for failing in major areas that God had dealt with us about. If we had a major victory — if something we wrote down the year before came to pass — we are certain to rejoice and give thanks to God!

This time of personal inventory has become very important to us, not only as a married couple, but also as a ministry. It is a time of accountability before the Lord for us all.

This leads me to ask you about your past 12 months. Have you fulfilled the promises you made to yourself and to the Lord when this year started?

If you’re looking back on a year that holds some victories, rejoice and share it with someone else! But if you have utterly failed at reaching specific targets that God put on your heart, I suggest that you immediately put First John 1:9 into operation, which says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” What a powerful verse to release us from condemnation of failure or non-performance!

The word “confess” is the Greek word homologia, and it means to say the same thing as God says. In other words, rather than debate with God about where you have failed, it’s time for you to get into agreement with God about your shortcomings. And when your confession is heartfelt, the Bible says that God is faithful and just to forgive you. The word “forgive” is the Greek word aphiemi, and it means to release, to let go, or to totally dismiss. In other words, if you’ve made a real heartfelt confession about where you have blown it, God promises that He won’t hold it against you. In fact, He’ll release you from it and send that failure as far away as the east is from the west (see Psalm 103:12). Not only will He forgive you and dismiss your failure, He’ll start with you all over again to win that victory you missed this past year!

Never forget that God is on your side, and He wants to see you victorious and burden-free! He just needs your heart agreement — a true acknowledgement of any failure or sin. The moment He has that, He will dismiss that failure or sin from you and release the resurrection power of Christ to help you achieve what He has put in your heart to accomplish!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, I admit that I’ve failed to fulfill some of the things You definitely told me to do in the past year. I confess it, I admit it, and I walk free of it. You do not hold it against me, because I am making a heartfelt confession about it. In fact, You take my failure and remove it from me as far as the west is from the east! And Your resurrection power helps me pick up right where I am to start anew and to gain those victories that belong to You and that You long to impart to me! I thank You, too, for helping me reset the start button to gain new victories in these areas of my life.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that God’s mercies over me are new each day. Therefore, each day is a brand-new opportunity to forget those things which are behind me as I press toward the prize of God’s calling that is drawing my attention to focus more and more upon Him. As I prepare my heart and mind to evaluate this past year, while giving attention to what God desires of me for the next year, I consider my ways and evaluate myself in the light of God’s Word. I trust in the Lord to reveal to me throughout the coming year how to stay on track with His plan for me. I receive fresh grace to do whatever it takes to discipline my body and mind, and to order my days so I don’t waste precious time. I am diligent and I am faithful; therefore, I abound with blessing and I live free of regrets!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Have you made a spiritual inventory to see how well you did at keeping the commitments you made to the Lord at the beginning of this year? Perhaps it would be helpful for you to take the time to do this so you can be honest with God about where you did well and where you could have done better.
2. Denise and I help each other at this time of the year to see how well we fared on our spiritual commitments. Whom do you have who can help you honestly look at your commitments and help hold you accountable?
3. What other steps do you need to take to put the past behind you and to get ready for the new year?

In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
— 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Isn’t it amazing how quickly the excitement of new possessions can wear off? Within days of getting all those gifts at Christmas as a young boy, I was already dreaming of what I would receive for my birthday — which was a full seven months away! All those items I saw in the Sears catalog that I didn’t get for Christmas were so fresh in my mind that I nearly ignored the toys I had received as I longed for the next round of gifts.

But the Bible tells us to be thankful! In First Thessalonians 5:18, Paul wrote, “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God concerning you.” My parents had to teach me to be thankful. Sometimes they had to literally sit down with me, explain the cost of gifts, the sacrifices that were made to purchase them, and the importance of not being greedy. God blessed me with such wonderful parents who took the time to teach and instruct me on the most basic and elementary principles of life.

As a mature adult, the concept of “thankfulness” is deeply ingrained into my being because my parents so deeply planted it in my character. There is nothing I have that I did not receive, and I am thankful for everything God has sent into my life and for every partner who has helped us fulfill our heavenly mission. I have so much to be grateful for!

In First Thessalonians 5:18, we are instructed to be thankful “in everything.” This phrase in the Greek language is en panti, and it means in every detail, even in the smallest way. One expositor has translated it to read, “In every circumstance, be thankful….”

The word “thankful” is the present imperative active tense of eucharisteo, a compound of eu and charis. The word eu denotes good or well and always denotes a good inner disposition or a good feeling about something. The word charis is the Greek word for grace. When compounded, the new word paints the picture of one who is so grateful that he has an outpouring of overwhelmingly good feelings about everything. Regardless of what is happening — or not happening — he has decided to be thankful.

Let’s be honest. Perhaps things could be better than they are in your life right now. However, you probably will admit that they are not as bad as they could be! The truth is, you have a lot to be thankful about — even about the smallest details of your life.

Years ago I made a decision that when anyone asks me how I’m doing, I would answer by simply saying, “THANKFUL!”

Thankfulness is a choice. You and I must turn our eyes toward the good in our lives and away from the foul things that try to hold our focus — and choose to be grateful. It’s not that we’re hiding our heads in the sand concerning those bad things; we’re simply obeying the Lord as we focus on what is good, and we display an attitude of thanksgiving “in everything.” Paul said, “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Could Paul’s words be any clearer? God wants you and me to be thankful — not resentful, not forgetful, but thankful. Really, if we consider all the terrible things that could have come about in our lives but didn’t, we can find a lot of reasons to be grateful. God has spared you and me from so much — and it is His will that we maintain a consistent, thankful attitude for the goodness He has shown us.

So I encourage you to make the decision today to put away all the bad memories of the past and start purposefully focusing on the good things God has done in your life. Even if you think life has been tough, I assure you that it has not been as tough as it could have been. God has been good to you. The best thing you can do when someone asks you how you’re doing is to respond, “I’m thankful !” Keep this attitude of thankfulness coming out of your mouth at all times, and speak it with conviction. I promise you, that one practice alone will change the way you see life!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, I’ve been through rough times, but the truth is, those times could have been a lot rougher. When I consider what You have brought me through — and the place of peace and rest You’ve brought me into — I can only say THANK YOU. Please forgive me for often quickly forgetting the good things You have done for me, and help me cultivate this attitude of thankfulness in my heart, for this is Your will in Christ Jesus concerning me!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I declare that I have a lot to be thankful for. Yes, it’s true that there are things I need and desire, but compared to where I used to be and how I experienced lack, I am living in the land of superabundance. I will not be forgetful of the good things God has done for me. I purpose to keep a grateful attitude for all the things He has done and is doing for me, both great and small. And when others ask me how I’m doing, I will confidently answer them, “THANKFUL!”

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. I challenge you to pray this prayer: “Heavenly Father, when I consider all that You have done for me, to be honest, there have been times when I’ve been a real ingrate — complaining about this, that, and the other thing, forgetting all the good things You have performed in my life. Honestly, if it hadn’t been for Your grace, I cannot imagine what my life would have Lord, I ask You to help me to make a list of all the ways that You have been good to me. I will post it in a place where I am regularly reminded of it to help me maintain an attitude of thankfulness.” Now make that list!
2. If you have a tendency to display a lack of thankfulness, it’s time for you to reprogram your brain — that is, to renew your mind — to be grateful for all the good things God has done for y How are you going to start the process of renewing your mind to recognizing more of God’s goodness in your life?
3. Have you ever met a person who is truly thankful for all he has in his life? How does his attitude of thankfulness affect you? Does it have a positive impact on you and make you wish you could be different?

…Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.
— Matthew 13:52

Are leftovers a part of your after-Christmas holiday tradition? After you read today’s Sparkling Gem, you may never look at leftovers the same way again!

When I was young, we always enjoyed a smorgasbord of leftovers each year after Christmas — which included turkey sandwiches smeared with lots of mayonnaise, warmed-up meatloaf spread with ketchup, and mashed potatoes covered with melted butter. Of course, we also had an array of leftover biscuits, cake, pie, and other desserts to choose from that hadn’t been consumed on Christmas Day.

The truth is, we had all kinds of leftovers the day after Christmas — and we sometimes had them for days after Christmas! But we eventually got tired of eating the same old thing, and it became time to clean out the refrigerator and start eating something fresh and new.

Oh, how my mother prepared for Christmas Day! When I was young, I didn’t appreciate all the food she prepared each year for Christmas; I simply consumed it. But now that our own family has grown so large — and I see what it takes to feed a small multitude — I have such gratitude for all the cooking my mother did for us when we were younger. And I’m so thankful to Denise and our daughters-in-law for the luscious meals they prepare for our Christmas celebrations. Even my son Paul jumps into the fray, smoking a lamb that is given to us by a church member each year at Christmas.

It takes time and effort to feed people — and to feed them food prepared from both old recipes and new recipes makes eating more interesting. Most everyone appreciates eating food prepared from old, tried-and-true recipes as well as trying foods that are new.

This makes me think of Matthew 13:52, where Jesus said, “…Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.”

Notice that in this verse, a scribe — or a teacher — is pictured as “bringing forth of out of his treasure things new and old.” The word “new” is from the Greek word kaina, and it refers to something absolutely new and previously untried. The word “old” is palaia, and it refers to that which is old and has existed for a long time. Although this verse is talking about teachers bringing forth new revelation versus old revelation, I like the example of leftovers and new recipes to further make this point.

There are some teachings, like good leftovers, that are always tasty and enjoyable — and a common staple around the dinner table. But there also comes a time when you want to eat something new. The good news is that the Kingdom of Heaven is full of wonderful established teaching — and it is also overabounding with new, fabulous teaching that you’ve never heard or tried before. A good teacher — like a good food-preparer — will bring out new and old recipes for a family to enjoy! Good “leftovers” are always enjoyable, but your spiritual taste buds will eventually cry out to eat something new!

I know from personal experience that as we give our attention to the Word of God, the Holy Spirit adds new insights to the old ones and causes our understanding of God and His Word to be marvelously expanded. I relate well to the scribe described in Matthew 13:52. Many of the Greek word studies you read in this book are old to me; yet so many of them are brand new. Often I think that I have unearthed every gem that can possibly be found in a particular verse of the New Testament. But then I study that same verse again, and the Holy Spirit wonderfully opens my eyes and illuminates my mind to show me truths that I previously didn’t see!

So let’s keep our minds and eyes open for the Holy Spirit to provide not only great leftovers, but also new teachings that we haven’t learned yet. Let us remain hungry for new teachings and new revelation from the Word of God that we’ve never attained to before. The old, familiar truths of Scripture are always healthy and good, but there is a cry in the spirit of man to know more, to attain more, and to taste new levels of the Lord’s goodness. So let’s enjoy the leftovers, but let’s also press forward to attain new truths in the spiritual feast the Lord has waiting for us. We must never forget Psalm 34:8, which says, “O taste and see that the Lord is good…”!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

 

Lord, I am hungry for fresh revelation of the Word of God. How could I be anything but thankful for the foundational truths that I’ve already received, yet my spirit is crying out to know You better and to receive revelatory truths that unveil aspects of Your character and Your ways yet unknown to me. I ask You to help those who teach me to be like a good scribe, knowing when to emphasize the old and when to introduce the new. Then You will equip them to bring forth new truths that my spirit is crying to hear and to know.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I boldly confess that I am grateful for every teaching I’ve ever received and that each one has added to the foundation of my life. But I am hungry for more of the Lord. I want more of His Word, more of His revelation. I want to learn new things, based on the teaching of the Bible, that will feed my spirit in a way I’ve never been fed before. I thank God for my pastor and for those teachers who teach me — but I purpose to keep an open ear and an open heart so I can also receive fresh heavenly revelation from the Spirit of God to feed to my spirit!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. What is the primary source of spiritual teaching for your life? Do you hear the same thing over and over again, or do you find that you are growing in your knowledge of the Word of God?
2. Who is the primary person God uses to feed you spiritual food — whether leftover food you’ve heard before or new teaching that is new to your ears? That person works very hard to prepare spiritual meals for y Have you taken time to thank that minister for the spiritual meals he or she prepares for you?
3. As I grow older in the Lord, I have realized the great impact people have had on my spiritual life when I was younger. I have felt the responsibility to communicate with them and thank them for the impartation they made in my life. Who are the people who have imparted spiritual truth into your life? Have you ever thanked them for all the time, prayer, work, and diligent effort they invested to spiritually feed you?

…Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
— Matthew 6:33

“Merry Christmas!”

Those were the first words we heard on Christmas Day when we were children. We were awakened when Dad would turn on the floodlights attached to his Kodak camera, and all three Renner kids would crawl out of bed in our pajamas, rubbing our eyes in the bright lights that were glaring down on us as Dad filmed practically every movement of the Christmas morning for us.

Today we still have those films that Dad took of all three of us as we scampered from our beds into the living room to begin the process of opening gifts. Those films are now decades old, and I am thankful for the thoughtfulness of my father to film those precious memories, which otherwise would have been completely lost. Now that they’ve been transferred to a digital format, we can enjoy them for years to come. Dad is in Heaven, but these are his treasures that he left for the rest of us to watch and enjoy.

Every so often, we watch those films and remember our childhood Christmases and the gifts that Daddy and Mother gave us. The greatest gift my parents ever gave me on Christmas was a study Bible — a very nice, leather-lined study Bible. I was so proud of it! They hit it right on the target when they gave me that Bible, as my heart was aflame to know more about God’s Word at that time in my life. I still have that Bible today. Dad wrote his favorite Bible verse right in the front of the inside cover. There, in Dad’s handwriting, it says, “…Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).

Dad would quote this verse to us kids all the time. He wrote it in birthday cards, in letters that he occasionally wrote to us when we were at the university — and, of course, in the front covers of every Bible he ever gave to each of us. He really believed this verse, and he wanted to embed it in our souls.

Dad quoted Matthew 6:33 so often, and wrote it to us so many times, that one day I decided to pick up my Greek New Testament and look at the word “seek” to see what it means. It is the present imperative active form of the Greek word zeteo, and it depicts a constant attitude to actively and constantly seek for a thing.

Furthermore, zeteo is a command. Jesus was literally commanding us to actively and constantly be seeking after the Kingdom of God. Jesus promised that if we did, everything else we needed in life would be supplied to us. No wonder Dad wanted to get that verse into our hearts! He knew that if we got this right, everything else would be okay in our lives.

So I want to ask you: Are you obeying Jesus’ command to habitually, constantly seek the Kingdom of God? Are you on-again, off-again in your spiritual passion, or would Jesus say you are consistent in your seeking of Him and His Kingdom? All those other things you need to be supplied for life will come if you’ll place Jesus first and never stop seeking the purposes of His Kingdom. Jesus truly is the Gift that keeps on giving!

This is Jesus’ promise to you — and these are my words of encouragement to you on this Christmas Day!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, I don’t want to be on-again, off-again in my pursuit of You. But as You command, I want to be habitual and constant in the way I seek You and Your Kingdom. There are many other things I need in life, but You promised that if I seek Your Kingdom first, all these other things will eventually be added unto me. So today I ask You to help me focus on the Kingdom of God and to keep my focus there for as long as I live on this earth!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that nothing in the world is more important to me than seeking the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. God’s Word promises that if I’ll remain focused and constant in seeking God’s Kingdom and His righteousness first, before anything else, He’ll make sure every other need is met in my life. So I confess by faith that starting today — and for every day following this new commitment — I am going to make God’s Word, His Kingdom, and His righteousness the chief priority in my life.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. What do you do on a practical basis to seek the Kingdom of God above everything else in your life? For example, do you start your day out by reading the Bible and praying? That might be a good way for you to start this important commitment if you’re not already doing it.
2. I start my day with a cup of coffee and my Bible in a secluded part of our house, where I read the Word as the highest priority of my day. I suggest that you consider doing this. Would you be willing to give this schedule a try?
3. Do you have any other ideas about how you can make the Kingdom of God and His righteousness the first priority in your life? Why don’t you think it over and see what the Lord shows you that would work best?

If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
— Philippians 2:1

One of our Renner holiday traditions when I was young was visiting some close, lifelong friends to our family on Christmas Eve. It was a Christmas tradition to gather with this family every Christmas Eve at their home until the Pope finished giving his annual Christmas message on television. Then we said our farewells to everyone for the evening.

I never understood why we waited for the Pope, seeing that we were such staunch Baptists. But that message from the Pope was the signal to the Renner family that Christmas Eve was coming to a close. After that speech, we piled into the car to head home, go bed, and eagerly wait to wake up the next morning so we could gleefully open our gifts.

 

When I think of those Christmas memories, I think of friends, family, and entire evenings of fellowship shared at our close friends’ home. I can remember those moments like they just happened last week. They were tender moments shared with our Christian friends — singing Christmas carols, fellowshipping around church events, and thanking God we knew the Lord and enjoyed fellowship with others in Christ.

I can remember driving home on Christmas Eve from our friends’ home and passing a bar along the way that looked like it was packed with people. I felt so sad for people who went to a bar on such a special night. They obviously did not know Christ. This left such sadness in my heart — and such thankfulness that my parents had led me to Christ at an early age.

Christmas Eve was a special night when our family gathered with God’s people and fellowshipped around His Word. All of this was a part of what Christmas Eve meant to me. This makes me think of Philippians 2:1, which says, “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”

This verse speaks of the “fellowship” of the Spirit — that is definitely what we enjoyed with our friends each Christmas Eve. The word “fellowship” is the Greek word koinonia, which describes something that is mutually shared. We mutually shared our common church membership; we mutually shared our faith in Christ; and we mutually shared our joy of the holiday and of our special night together. From beginning to end, Christmas Eve with the Renners and their close family friends was a night of koinonia and one of the greatest memories of my life.

I encourage you to find a way to share Christmas Eve with people who are close to you. Let it be a time when you mutually rejoice and spend time together. It is such a special night, so don’t let it slip by with you being alone. There are others out there, like you, who are longing to spend time with someone on that special evening!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, I thank You for the fellowship of the Spirit that we have with other Christians who mutually share faith with us. What a fellowship, what a joy, and what a blessing — to build years of fellowship and Christian traditions with other believers. I ask You to help me start thinking about how to build Christian traditions for myself and my own family, especially in moments like Christmas Eve. I am so thankful for fellow believers who share the same hope I possess. I’m so grateful we can spend cherished times together in our mutual love for the Lord and for each other.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I will work on building traditional Christian events for myself and my family in order to deepen the true significance of this beautiful season. God has given me friends that I can spend those moments with — and if I haven’t developed those friends yet, I declare by faith that I’m going to step out of my comfort zone and begin to connect with other Christian believers. I need this, my family needs this — and I will look for ways to do it.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Do you have a Christmas Eve tradition? If so, what is it and how long have you been doing it?
2. Do you spend time with other believers — or with family — on Christmas Eve? What do you do? How do you spend that time together to make it really meaningful?
3. Do you open Christmas gifts on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? Different families have different traditions — what are your traditions?

But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.
— Philippians 2:7

Today I want to give you a little insight into what it’s like to live in two worlds — the Western world and the Eastern world. When you live in the West, Christmas is celebrated on December 25. But in Russia and in the former countries of the USSR, religious holidays typically fall two weeks later than the western celebrations.

For example, Russian Christmas is celebrated on January 7 — two weeks after Christmas is finished in the West. So while the western world is putting away its decorations, Russian Christmas hasn’t even started. In fact, if December 25 falls on a weekday, that date is nothing more than a regular workday in Russia. So while the western world is celebrating Christmas, we — that is, our family and our church in Moscow — are mostly going about a normal workday with no special festivities.

You might wonder how all this “confusion” began. As you probably know, the entire world once operated according to the Julian calendar — but in 1582, the world switched to the Gregorian calendar. Secular Russia changed to the new Gregorian calendar with the rest of the world.

However, the Orthodox Church — because the new calendar was Catholic-based — rejected it and decided to stay with the old Julian calendar. As a result, Russia has two calendars: a secular calendar (Gregorian) and a religious calendar (Julian), the latter of which is honored by the Russian Orthodox Church. Believe me when I tell you this can create holiday confusion!

That means when people are done celebrating Christmas in the United States and western Europe, and they’re getting ready for the New Year’s celebration, Russia is still 14 days away from Christmas. Then when the West is done with their New Year’s celebration, and everyone moves past January 1 on the calendar, Russia also has a second New Year also 14 days later, according to the Russian Orthodox calendar. Furthermore, when western Easter is done and decorations are being put away, Russia is just preparing for its festivities, for Russian Easter is also typically two weeks later than this holiday on the western calendar.

Do you see what I mean by my phrase “holiday confusion”?

Let me give you an example of how this affects our personal lives. Having grown up in America, Denise and I are accustomed to celebrating Christmas on December 25. That is a very strongly ingrained tradition in us. But our sons and their families, having grown up in Russia, are accustomed to celebrating Christmas 14 days later on January 7. In fact, they are so acclimated to life in Russia that they don’t recognize December 25 as Christmas. To them, it’s not a holiday; it’s just another day.

That puts Denise and me in quite a dilemma: How do we celebrate Christmas? We often end up looking strangely at each other on December 25, feeling that something is seriously missing or out of sync! Since our sons and their families celebrate Christmas on January 7, along with the rest of the Russian people, it leaves Denise and me to figure out what to do by ourselves on December 25. Sometimes it’s very lonely, so we have to get creative about what to do.

One year, Denise and I bought tickets to the circus so we’d have something to do on December 25 while most Russians were engaged in a normal workday. Another year, Denise and I went to the ballet. Still another year, we invited friends over for a special dinner on December 25. It was not Christmas to them, but they joined us to honor our invitation.

Of course, when January 7 rolls around — the traditional date for Christmas in Russia — everyone here in Moscow is finally ready to celebrate this holiday! But while our Moscow office is closed for the Christmas holidays, the Tulsa office is open because Christmas has already been celebrated in the West. (And by the same token, while our Tulsa office is closed for the Christmas holidays, the Moscow office is brimming with activity and the daily work of the ministry. Consequently, whether in Moscow or Tulsa — no matter who’s celebrating their Christmas around the world — Denise and I are still very much engaged in the everyday work of the ministry!)

I know this probably sounds confusing. Trying to make sense of it and work around these various dates can be very convoluted. Although we’ve lived in Russia for decades, we still have to work hard to navigate this holiday confusion.

But regardless of the date on which Christmas is celebrated, the fact remains that Jesus was born! Whether that momentous event is celebrated on December 25 or January 7 — or some other date — Jesus’ birth is what is most important. In Philippians 2:6 and 7, Paul wrote, “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.”

Let me talk to you about these miraculous verses. Paul began by describing the preexistence of Jesus before He came to the earth as a man. Paul said, “Who, being in the form of God….” The word “being” is a translation of the Greek word huparcho, a compound of the words hupo and arche. In this case, the word hupo means from, and the word arche means first, original, or ancient. When they become the word huparcho, it depicts something that has always existed.

By using this key word that means to eternally exist, Paul was declaring that Jesus had no beginning, but rather had always existed. This also explains Jesus’ statement when He declared, “…Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). Thus, Philippians 2:6 could be translated, “Who, eternally existing in the form of God….” In other words, Jesus’ human birth in Bethlehem was not His beginning, but merely His manifestation to mankind, a brief appearance in His eternal existence.

Paul wrote that Jesus always existed in the “form” of God. The word “form” is the Greek word morphe. This word describes an outward form, which means that in Jesus’ preexistence, He looked just like God. He was not just a component of God, nor a symbol of God. In reality, He was God. And as the eternal God Himself, Jesus possessed the very shape and outward appearance of God — a form that includes great splendor, glory, power, and a Presence so strong that no flesh can endure it.

God existed in glory more wonderful than the human mind can comprehend and more powerful than human flesh can endure. Yet He desired to come to earth to purchase redemption for man. Therefore, God had no choice but to “reclothe” Himself in a manner that could be tolerated by man. This is why He “…made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.”

This is the true story of Christmas — minus the confusion!

The phrase “made himself of no reputation” comes from the Greek word kenos, which means to make empty, to evacuate, to vacate, to deprive, to divest, or to relinquish. Because it was impossible for God to appear to man as God, He had to change His outward form. The only way He could make this limited appearance as a man was to willfully, deliberately, and temporarily let go of all the attributes we usually think of when we consider the characteristics of God. For 33 years on this earth, God divested Himself of all His heavenly glory and “…took upon him the form of a servant…” (Philippians 2:7).

The phrase “took upon him” perfectly describes that marvelous moment when God reached out to lay hold of human flesh and take it upon Himself so that He might appear as a man on the earth. The words “took upon him” are from the Greek word lambano, which means to take, to seize, to catch, to latch on to, to clutch, or to grasp. This word lets us know that God literally reached out from His eternal existence into the material world He had created — and took human flesh upon Himself in “the form of a servant.”

Not only did God become man, but a “servant.” This word “servant” is from the Greek word doulos, which refers to a slave. Paul used this word to picture the vast difference between Jesus’ preexistent state and His earthly life.

Paul goes on to say that Jesus “…was made in the likeness of men.” The phrase “was made” is the Greek word ginomai, which means to become, indicating that this was not Jesus’ original form but it became His new form. This clearly describes the miracle that occurred when God became a man. Jesus had always existed in the form of God, not the form of man. But taking upon Himself human flesh, He was formed in the womb of the Virgin Mary and became a man.

God literally took upon Himself the “likeness” of a man. The word “likeness” is the Greek word homoioma, which refers to a form or resemblance. This refers not only to Jesus’ being made in the visible likeness of men, but also in the human likeness of men. In other words, when Jesus appeared on this earth, He came in the actual form of a man and was just like man in every way.

Jesus was so completely made in the “likeness” of men that Hebrews 4:15 declares He was even tempted in every way that men are tempted. It says, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

So we see that when God the Father sent His Son into the world, Jesus left His heavenly home and took upon Himself human flesh. And because of this great exchange, He has stood in our place; He has felt what we feel. Even today, He is touched with the feelings of our infirmities, and He intercedes for us with great compassion as our High Priest.

At this time of the year — whether we celebrate on December 25 or January 7 or some other day — we are prone to think of Jesus as a little baby in a manger in a Bethlehem stable. Certainly this is true, but we should never forget that His birth in Bethlehem was not Jesus’ beginning. It was merely the moment of His brief appearance in His eternal existence.

Out of His deep love for you and me, Jesus was willing to leave His majestic realms of glory to enter the realm of humanity. Shedding all His visible attributes that were too much for man’s flesh to endure, He dressed Himself in the clothing of a human being and was manifested in the flesh. That little Baby in Bethlehem was the eternal, ever-existent God Almighty, who came to us in human flesh so that He could dwell among men and purchase our salvation. He was and is the only “constant” in a world that is chaotic and confused!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, I thank You that regardless of what day it happened — Jesus took on the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men. He stooped to the level of His creation and died the death of a Cross, all because He loved me and wanted me to become a part of His eternal family. Help me not to get stuck on “what” day it actually happened, but rather to rejoice in the fact that it did happen! Because Jesus came to earth in the form of a man and died for me, today I am a child of God. For this, I can say thank You for the greatest gift. I am so glad I am redeemed!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I understand that the exact day on which Jesus’ birth occurred is not so important — but what is important is that He put aside His glorious attributes and took on the form of a human being and a servant, and humbled Himself to die the death of a Cross. Because of the price He paid, I have been permanently saved and set free. For this, I declare my thankfulness at Christmastime!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Have you ever thought about two different sides of the world celebrating Christ’s birth at two different times on the calendar? Can you name someone who celebrates Christmas on a different day than December 25?
2. When you think of Jesus’ birth and the fact that He laid aside His glorious appearance as God to take on the form of a man, how does this affect you? If you were to describe it to someone else, what would you say?
3. What is most meaningful to you about the celebration of Christmas?

And be ye kind one to another….
— Ephesians 4:32

During the Christmas season each year, I always feel a little sorry for Denise. I always felt the same way about my father when he was alive on the earth.

Let me explain. Denise was born on December 22, and my father was born on December 25 — which, of course, is Christmas Day. Like it or not, their birthdays played “second fiddle” to Christmas. With all the other holiday celebrations that were always happening during that time of year, their birthdays often passed unceremoniously. Today my father is in Heaven — but Denise, thankfully, is very much still here, and she loves to have her birthday celebrated.

I’ve always tried faithfully to do something to make Denise’s birthday memorable, but the fact that her special day is three days before Christmas makes it challenging to include additional party events into our schedule. I never remember anything special happening for my father’s birthday except an acknowledgment on Christmas Day that it was his birthday. Mother gave him a gift, a birthday kiss, and that was about it. Dad and Mom were focused on making sure that we kids had a wonderful Christmas Day, so Dad’s birthday became sort of sidelined along the way.

Actually, for anyone born in December, it’s a challenge to have a meaningful birthday celebration. Efforts are put in so many other directions: church-wide events, smaller Sunday school parties, special Christmas outreaches to the lost, school activities — and, of course, decorating the house for the holidays, shopping for last-minute gifts, and lots of special cooking for the family. All of these activities can interfere with people whose birthdays are in December. There’s so much to do during the holiday season that it can throw people into a tailspin to add multiple birthday celebrations on top of it all.

Our Renner family has multiple December birthdays to celebrate each year (including my dear mother earlier in the month!), and trying to keep up with them in the midst of everything else can present a challenge. But Denise’s birthday is very important to her, probably because her special day was “overlooked” when she was younger for all the reasons I just named. So on December 22, or as close to December 22 as possible, I try to take the immediate family to dinner for the sole purpose of celebrating Denise!

We live in Moscow, which is geographically huge and statistically has some of the worst traffic in the world in the month of December. Getting our family together for any event in December is a big deal. When I’m able to get us all together under one roof — in the same room breathing the same air — Denise sees the effort it took for us to all get together, and it puts a smile on her face and joy in her heart.

Most often we’re able to pull off this departure from all the bustle and stir of holiday activities. But there have been years when we haven’t been so successful. But whether we’re able to pull it off or not, there is one thing I always do that means the world to Denise. It seems simple, but it means everything to her. What is it? I buy her a birthday card and write her a special note. And if birthday cards in Russia are not to be found, I actually make her a card with my own pencil and colored pens, and then I write her a heartfelt note. I think the notes that I create myself mean more to her than the ones I buy, because she knows I really put my heart and a lot of thought into it.

Why do I put so much effort into making sure Denise feels especially honored on her birthday? Because I desire to show kindness to my wife and even to grow in the demonstration of my kindness toward her. Ephesians 4:32 says, “And be ye kind one to another….”

The words “be ye” are a translation of the word ginesthe, the present imperative middle voice of ginomai. Used in this way, it means be ye constantly becoming. It depicts a devotion to becoming something more than one presently is. Hence, it presents the image of one who is in the constant process of becoming “kinder.” The word “kind” is the Greek word chrestos, and it depicts something that is useful, good, worthy, or benevolent. Paul listed it in Galatians 5:22 as a “fruit” that the Holy Spirit produces in our lives.

This tells us that when the Holy Spirit is working in us, He is constantly working to change us, to transform us, to mature us, and to make us kind — that is, useful, good, worthy, or benevolent. We start where we are, but by allowing the Holy Spirit to work in us, He causes us to progressively demonstrate kindness more and more to others.

It may sound minor, but sometimes an act of kindness or tender attention is just what someone needs on his or her birthday. Your flesh might say, “There’s no time for that this year; life is too busy.” But the kindness of the Holy Spirit in me causes me to say, If it’s important to my loved one, I’ll do my best to make it important to me.

Becoming “kind” is not something you arrive at overnight. It takes a commitment — almost akin to an obsession — to be more like Christ, who definitely would give care and attention to someone on a day that is important to him or her. So rather than say, “It’s an inconvenient time for me to give my attention to this,” we need to say, “Holy Spirit, show me how to show kindness and to act in a way that is worthy of You. What would You have me do? That’s what I want to do on this person’s special day!”

If you will take this approach and “be ye kind,” whether it concerns someone’s birthday or simply the way you interact with others in life, you will never go wrong!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, I’m embarrassed by how often I have failed simply to “be kind” toward others — especially those closest to me. I feel almost silly that I’ve overlooked it or counted it as unimportant. Help me start where I am and, day by day, become more focused on the special needs and special days in other people’s lives. I know this is what You would do, so help me to be more like You!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that God never overlooks any detail about our lives. He is Love, and He goes out of His way to show honor and esteem so others will know they are valued. I am determined to be thoughtful of others. I confess that I will work harder on this than I’ve ever worked on it before, and I will show care and kindness to people who have special days in the month of December.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Do you know anyone whose birthday falls in the month of December? Who is that person? Have you ever considered how overlooked that person may feel because of all the other events that are going on in the same month?
2. Even if it’s simple, what can you do solely for that person to show that you’re thinking of him or her at this time? A birthday celebration doesn’t have to be a monumental event every year. Even a small but meaningful act of recognition would be deeply appreciated.
3. How long has it been since you personally created a birthday card for someone you love? It’s easy to buy a card, but to sit down and create one and write a note in it shows great love and care. Have you ever considered doing this for someone for his or her birthday?

Let all things be done decently and in order.
— 1 Corinthians 14:40

My precious daddy was a fanatic when it came to order and cleanliness. He couldn’t bear the thought of wrapping paper scattered around the house on Christmas Day after all the gifts had been opened. So on the day before Christmas each year, he would start organizing a way to quickly collect paper wrapping, ribbons, and other trash so that it wouldn’t lie strewn around the living room on Christmas Day.

Sure enough, my dad’s plan always worked. When Christmas Day came, the wrapping paper and ribbons were collected just as quickly as they were removed from the gifts. There was never any evidence that there had been a mess in our living room. Instead of waiting till the last present was unwrapped, Dad made sure that room remained as clean as it was when we began opening gifts.

My father was committed when it came to cleanliness and order every day of the year! Our yard was always mowed on time, and the curbs, driveway, and sidewalks were perfectly edged. The flowerbeds looked orderly, and our bushes were always neatly trimmed. Because we had a dog, it was my daily duty to walk the yard to look for dog excrement and remove it. So with my hand-shovel and garbage sack, I’d walk back and forth across the back yard to make sure it was spotless before Dad’s truck pulled into the driveway at 5:00 p.m. each weekday. As soon as my dad stepped out of his vehicle, the first thing he’d do was walk through the yard to see if I had done my job and to see how well I’d done it.

That’s just the way it was at our house — inside and out. And it was good because it taught me so much about staying on top of situations before they spun out of control. It’s usually better to be ahead of a problem than to have a pile of various “messes” to clean up later on.

This reminds me of a Bible verse about doing things “decently and in order.” It’s not a Christmas verse, but it has application to every area of life every day of the year. It is First Corinthians 14:40, which says, “Let all things be done decently and in order.” This verse is actually talking about the right and wrong way to conduct a worship service, but it contains a principle that I wish to expound on in today’s Sparkling Gem.

The word “decently” is from the Greek word euschemonos. Besides this verse, the word euschemonos is found only two other times in the New Testament — in Romans 13:13 and First Thessalonians 4:12. In both of these places, it is translated to do something honestly or to walk honestly. It carries the notion of something that is done properly as opposed to improperly.

The word “order” is the Greek word taksis. It carries the idea of something done in a fitting way or something done according to order. The Jewish historian Josephus used the word taksis when he recorded the orderly way in which the Roman army erected their camps — indicating their camps were orderly, organized, and well-planned. The commanders didn’t engage in last-minute planning. Their camps were not hastily thrown together. Rather, they were set up in an organized and thoughtful manner.

Josephus also used the word taksis to describe the way the Essene Jews behaved so respectfully of others. These Jews would wait until others were finished speaking before they’d take their turn and speak out. In Josephus’ depiction of this behavior among the Essenes, he used the word taksis to portray people who were respectful, deferential, courteous, accommodating, well-mannered, and polite.

Do you see how this verse could be applied to many situations in life? It could be interpreted, “Let everything be done in a fitting and proper manner that is organized, well-planned, respectful, well-mannered, and polite.”

My father regularly quoted this verse — usually out of context — but it ensured that things were done “decently and in order” in our house. Our home, and any event held in our home, was orderly, organized, and well-planned. We didn’t know anything about last-minute planning. Rather, things were done in an organized and thoughtful manner because our father believed it showed respect, courtesy, and politeness to everyone present.

I’m so thankful that this lesson was passed from my Grandfather Renner to my father and then to me and to my sons. Now I even see our grandchildren carrying on the same “decently and in order” tradition. Even now, before even the second gift is opened on Christmas Day, the trash remaining from the first gift has already been picked up and discarded. We have fun in a trash-free, orderly environment!

Whether on Christmas Day or any day, when things get out of control, it leaves room for confusion and often anger later on when others don’t join in the task of cleaning up. If you’ve never tried it, why not institute the “decent and in order” approach! Have some fun in a trashfree, orderly environment. It will make your day so much more enjoyable when you don’t have strife over who is going to clean up a mess!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, I accept the challenge to keep things decent and in order as we celebrate and have fun together. There’s no reason to let piles of trash build up and make it really hard for someone to clean up later in the day. Show me every opportunity to demonstrate kindness and consideration and to help my family do likewise so that no one gets their feelings hurt because they feel left alone in the task of bringing order back to the house. Lord, help me to set the standard, and to set the rules. And help us do things in a way that makes it a joyful day for everyone involved!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I am going to lead my family in keeping things decent and in order this Christmas season. Rather than let the house go and allow stacks of trash and piles of messes to build up that could later cause strife, I will rid my house of the problem before it ever gets started. I’ll set the example and ask others to help me keep the house looking nice before it descends into a mess that looks horrible. This sounds simple, and it IS simple. With God’s help, this year we’re going to keep things looking decent and orderly around our house!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. What has been your Christmas experience in years past? Has the devil used trash to create strife and turmoil at the end of a wonderful holiday event?
2. Why not simply make the announcement that this year you’re going to be doing things differently to keep things clean and orderly as the day goes by? Have everyone par Put plastic trash sacks around the room, and inform everyone that as soon as a gift is opened, the wrapping, ribbons, and filler are to be put into the trash bag before the next gift can be opened. It will bring such order to your day!
3. You have most likely experienced the difference between a chaotic, disorderly environment and one in which a sense of order and peace pervades. How would you describe the different ways both types of environments affect you?

And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
— Deuteronomy 11:19

Decades have passed, but we Renners are still reading the Christmas story as a family tradition before we open gifts. Every Christmas, our immediate family members come to our home in Moscow, where all the grandchildren excitedly wait to open their presents. But just as our sons had to wait until the Christmas story was first read and discussed, we have continued this family tradition — only now the whole event takes place in the Russian language, since that has become the primary language of the Renner households in Russia!

We read the Christmas story from Matthew and Luke — all in Russian — and then our ever-growing group of grandchildren interacts and joins the conversation about what we just read about the birth of Jesus. As questions are asked, the older ones eagerly lift their hands to be acknowledged, and they each participate in a wonderful discussion about Jesus and all the events that surrounded His miraculous birth. One hand shoots up into the air — then the next and the next as our grandchildren compete to give the right answers to questions, such as:

• Where did the wise men come from?
• Why was Herod so paranoid about Jesus being born?
• How old was Mary when she became pregnant?
• How did she become pregnant?
• What was the job of a carpenter?

The list of questions goes on and on. And if any child dare approach the gifts before this conversation is concluded, they are quickly corrected by the other grandchildren, who have come to love this as their favorite part of Christmas Day!

In fact, this family tradition has become so interesting that no one gets in a hurry to move on to the time of opening gifts. The children realize that the gifts will still be there regardless of how much time our story takes. We have so much fun talking about the Gospel message that no one ever becomes anxious about opening the gifts. The big event of our Christmas morning is the story of Christmas and the fun challenge of trying to out-answer everyone else with the correct responses to the questions that are asked!

Deuteronomy 11:19 says, “And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them [God’s words] when thou sitteth in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”

In the Greek version of the Old Testament, called the Septuagint, the word “teach” is the Greek plural form of the word didasko. This word emphatically means that parents have the responsibility to teach their children how to live by God’s law and ordinances and to have a working knowledge of His Word. According to this verse, parents are to take every opportunity to teach their children. Deuteronomy 11:19 says we’re to speak God’s Word when they rise, when they walk by the way, when they lie down, and when they rise again. One of the foremost responsibilities of parents is to impart the teaching and traditions of the Word of God to their children.

People often ask what Denise and I did to raise such godly sons — and, now, godly grandchildren. The answer is that we took Deuteronomy 11:19 very seriously. Denise and I didn’t hold a daily Bible study with our sons — but in the process of living life, we pointed out creation and the Creator, the love of God, His plan of redemption, and so on. We constantly and habitually reminded our children of God Almighty and His goodness in our lives. And we applied this same principle on Christmas Day.

What a wonderful day to speak truth to your children or grandchildren — to make the Word of God the highest priority of the day on Christmas morning. The impact and the memories will last a lifetime as you make it a fun and meaningful time together — and then move on to open presents, partake of special foods, and enjoy precious time with family for the rest of the day.

I’ve taken three days to exhort you on this subject because I believe it is such a serious tradition for a Christian family to build into their lives. If you do not already have such a tradition, today I want to encourage you to think about what kind of Christmas customs you can establish for your family to practice on this important holiday!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, I continue to be stirred by this exhortation on the importance of deliberate traditions and habits to place God’s Word first on a daily basis. Teach me how to make practical applications of Deuteronomy 11:19 every day in every area of my life beyond this holiday season. I ask You to show me how to start new traditions for our family that can be passed down to ensuing generations. I also ask You to help our family really think through what kind of Christian tradition we can start and continue year by year to keep You and Your Word the focal point of all that we do. Once we get started, give us the strength of will to keep it up perpetually and pass it on to other generations. Most of all, we want not only a Christian tradition but also a daily lifestyle that will honor Christ and bring Him glory!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I create deliberate habits to bring God’s Word into my daily life and the lives of those around me. This year I’m going to seriously consider what kind of Christian traditions I can begin in my family and will move forward to initiate a godly heritage in my home. There’s no better time to start than now, so I plan to get started this Christmas season!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. What other kind of Christian traditions have you heard of that people practice with their families?
2. Have you ever considered taking Communion as a part of your Christmas Day events? When would you do it, and how would you talk to your family about this sacrament of Communion?
3. Once you start a tradition, you want to make sure it is one that you can continue year by year, so really think this through before you get star Why not write it down and discuss it with your spouse — or, if you’re single, with another relative or close friend? It’s important not to make a big announcement to your children that you don’t follow through with each year.

…Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
— 2 Timothy 3:14,15

When Denise and I began our family, we made a decision that we would open no gifts on Christmas morning until we had first read the Christmas story in its entirety to our sons. The impact my father made on me by following this practice for a few years during my childhood never left me. I pledged that when I became a father, my own family would read the Christmas story before a single gift was opened.

Although our sons were eager to open gifts, they understood the rules — and those rules meant that we were going to place God’s Word first before opening gifts. Knowing that this was the plan, and that nothing was going to alter it, actually helped our children listen attentively. Not only did we carefully read the Christmas story to them, we also involved them in the conversation. Sometimes we devoted a full hour to this discussion before we even moved toward the Christmas tree. The Word of God — and reading as a family about the real reason for Christmas — reigned supreme above everything else. And guess what? As we discussed Herod, the wise men, the angels, the guiding star, and so forth, this biblical story became a favorite highlight of Christmas and a cherished memory for our sons.

Each year as I’d read from the Bible, I’d ask our sons questions, and the boys would raise their hands, eager to give the answers. It became like a holiday game. As result, our sons became soundly educated in the Christmas story and the many interesting facts surrounding this momentous event that even most adults don’t know.

Unlike my father who started a tradition but didn’t continue it, we continued in it. Now our sons are adults with their own children, and Denise and I have allowed our sons to take the prominent role in reading the Christmas story. Even today, no one would think to violate this holy tradition in our family. How could we open gifts before putting God’s Word first? To put Him first and continue this handed-down custom is the most wonderful part of our Christmas experience!

Traditions are something that must be started and maintained. The apostle Paul told Timothy, “…Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures….”

Let’s look at the word “continue” for a moment. It was translated from the Greek word meno, which means to abide or to stay. But when it becomes the present active imperative voice, as it appears here, it means it is a command that is to be actively followed and never broken. It describes a constant and continual habit. This word meno could be used to describe my own daily Bible reading, for example. I am firmly committed to never breaking this constant and continual habit. It is my daily tradition, custom, ritual, or practice — one that I abide in and refuse to violate.

Today I want to encourage you with the seed of an idea: Please consider starting an unbreakable, once-a-year tradition of setting gifts aside momentarily to read the Christmas story with your children or grandchildren — or with whomever you share your Christmas morning — before opening those gifts. It will take discipline for you to do this, and you’ll have to stress to your children or grandchildren that this is a new tradition that you’re beginning this year. Then plan on continuing the tradition year after year from this point forward.

I can tell you with assurance that this new tradition will add richness and depth to your Christmas experience. And as those portions of Scripture become interwoven in the fabric of your Christmas memories over the years, the eternal truth found within the words will get planted deeper and deeper in your hearts. More and more, you and your family will be able to better comprehend the magnitude of the miracle we all celebrate at Christmastime — when the Word became flesh and dwelt among us!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father, I realize that continual, godly habits build stability into a life and a family. Today’s Sparkling Gem is a practical example of how traditions can help cultivate godly character through the good habit of placing God’s Word first before natural enjoyment. I can see the benefits of starting and continuing this wonderful tradition for my family. Help me be a voice of loving influence in getting this Christmas tradition started and then to help sustain it through the years with my family. I pray that all of us who share our Christmas mornings together — no matter how young or how old — will grow in our knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ because we have made the commitment to start this tradition!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

This Christmas I will start a new tradition with my family and my loved ones. BEFORE anything else on Christmas, we will begin the day by reading the Christmas story from the Bible. I am confident that the Holy Spirit will help us make this a happy and joyful time in the Word of God as a family. Afterward, we’ll enjoy the rest of our Christmas festivities together. But from this year on, we will begin our Christmas Day focused on the reason we are even celebrating this holiday in the first place!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. How will you get started with this new tradition? It’s easy to do. Just make an announcement that you’re going to read the Christmas story before you open gifts. Have everyone bring their Bibles into the room where your Christmas tree and gifts are (or whatever room you choose), gather together, and let members of the family read different verses of the story so that everyone feels like he or she is a part of what is happening.
2. As you’re reading, be sure to stop and ask, “What does this mean to you?” Let your family members know that you’re not rushing — that you’re going to soak in this most important story. You’ll be amazed at what different family members, especially your children or grandchildren, will come up with in what they ask and what they answer! Why not read through the Christmas story in advance for yourself and write down a few questions that would be good to ask your family members? Did you learn anything new as you did this?
3. Once you’re finished reading the Christmas story, I encourage you to join hands and pray together — and thank your Heavenly Father that He sent Jesus into the world to redeem us from our sins. Then tear into those gifts! Consider writing down your memories from this first experience of your new lifelong tradition.