A Christmas Story – Edition #2

Friday, December 9th, 2005

A Christmas Story – Edition #2

Piety (noun):

• Righteousness by virtue of being pious.

Pious (adj.):

• Having or showing or expressing reverence for a deity.




• Devoutly religious.

Devote (verb):

• To set apart by or as if by a vow or solemn act; consecrate.




• To give or apply (one's time, attention, or self) entirely to a particular activity, pursuit, cause, or person.




• Dedicate.

Acts 2:42-47
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

OK, so they devoted themselves to the teaching and the fellowship… among other things. As a church we have devoted Sunday to the teaching. I don’t think that is necessarily important for to me go to a church building, per se, because the church is within us. A house (home) is perfectly OK with me, however to not meet would not please God. To not preach the word would not please God. Therefore, I feel it necessary to have some service. I feel it is necessary to have a meeting of the body, because what we do on December 25th if there were not a holiday? If the reason for the season is Christ and we do not meet, then what really is the reason for the season in our hearts? Would I be placing a tradition before my faith, before my God?

Romans 14:13-21
13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. 14 As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. 15 If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. 16 Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.

19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.

So, for me and my family, we will be at Church Sunday, December 25th. If I were to not go, it would violate my conscience and if I have to travel all away across the Metroplex to do so, so be it. I would much rather travel a distance and be clear of heart than to stay home and feel in disarray. Johnny Out.

God > Me