The Lord gave us the privilege of sharing a nice Christmas meal, centerpiece of bacon-wrapped turkey, with a great family of the faith. We were welcomed in and had such great fun and fellowship with them. This was our first Christmas away from our physical family, but we were elated to spend it with such great spiritual family. As we were talking, Robin was talking about Fenwick’s window. (Here in Newcastle, this store spends copious amounts of money to decorate their window, and people stand for hours to see it. It is big part of the Christmas season here). He commented that in a previous year, one of the displays had been a Nativity. Apparently, a child looking at the window asked what this had to do with Christmas. For us, this was an unthinkable tragedy. The real meaning, the Truth about Christmas, had been taken out of the season. The way the world celebrates Christmas, we might as well rename this season Mas-presents or some such nonsense. In reading this week, I came across these verses from the final chapter of Corinthians.

2 Corinthians 13:8-10 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray, that you may be made complete. Therefore I [Paul] write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction.

As Followers of Christ, we must live by these verses. We must be careful not to ever do anything against the Truth, but for it. The world has launched a concentrated attack on Truth and are trying to replace it with personal relativism (whatever is right for you). It seems that it is the mission of some to exhaust themselves in service of the Truth so that many more might be made strong in it. No one can ever be whole or complete without the Truth, which is Jesus. We stand and battle for the Truth with all that we have in us, but at the same time, we cannot use or authority or knowledge to destroy or bring destruction. We must always bring the Truth in a way that encourages. Everyone knows that if you bring the Truth and beat someone over the head without, it does not help them. It can be likened to an ambulance driving up to someone who has been injured backing up and running over them. It is there to help them, but can cause a lot of damage to them if it is not properly handled. We must do all that we can to stand for the Truth and speak it in Love!!!

Do not forget to apply this to yourself as we also seek to. Ask Holy Spirit to reveal any area in your life that you may not be fully standing in the Truth. Seek to stand wherever He reveals. Also, ask Him to reveal how you can stand and speak the Truth in love and encouragement and not cause harm to those who need it the most.

We continue to love and pray for the Family of God as a whole and pray that you are blessed and encouraged by everything that we are a part of. If these blogs have been an encouragement to you, think about following them and sharing them with friends so that others may be encouraged and experience the Truth in a new way.

Blessings of Jesus, the True Reason for the Season!!!
Jeremiah, Man on Fire!!!