Video of the Day: Clip from the 1988 movie “Scrooged”
Bible Verse of the Day:
For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. 11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh[b] was put off when you were circumcised by[c] Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you[d] alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross, Colossians 2:9-15.
Biblical Connection:
Francis Xavier Cross is a television executive who places his self above all others. However, after a visit from a ghost of Christmas past and the future, Francis wants to live. Today is my spiritual birthday, coming to faith in Christ in 1984, Romans 10:9-11. After hearing the testimony of Skip Wilkins, I wanted to have what he had in his heart. I wanted to come alive like Francis in Scrooged.
The apostle Paul writes about the spiritual obstacles Christians in the Church of Colosse face. Yet, Jesus is the key to coming alive spiritually. Based upon the words of Romans 6:23, God offers Jesus up as a free gift which cancels the wages of death. This is the power that Paul speaks of in today’s featured passage. By conquering death via His resurrection, Jesus made it possible to come alive.
Closing Song:
Randy Stonehill sings about the individuals who experience Christmas without any hope. Randy compares a restaurant to the characters in the Bible on the first Christmas Eve. As Christmas approaches, you may be overwhelmed like the sad story Randy shares. Yet, it only takes an ounce of faith to want to change like Francis Xavier Cross. May you catch the Christmas spirit, eager to come alive spiritually this December.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 