Sunday Writing... 12-9-18... "CHRISTMAS TREES"

Good morning good readers!

Today our writing continues with the theme from last Sunday about trees and branches.  "CHRISTMAS TREES" focuses on the tradition of using an evergreen tree in the home to decorate in celebration of the birth of Christ.  In it you will read about where the tradition may have originated and whether it is a hindrance or a help to our Christian faith.

May you be blessed,

Jan

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Today's Devotional: 

"CHRISTMAS TREES"

by

Jan Andersen

It’s December - this is the month where many Americans put up an evergreen tree in their homes, often a spruce or pine or fir tree, and decorate them various ways.  Some choose to use an artificial tree for various reasons, either due to allergies, cost, or just to avoid the dropping needles etc.  Some of those artificial trees are already partially decorated with lights or white flocking to look like snow on the branches.  They may even have little fake pinecones on them to make them look even more real. 

Some Christians do not use a Christmas tree, feeling it is a pagan practice and even condemned in the Old Testament in Jeremiah 10:1-10.  However, the verses they use to support this belief are  taken out of context.  There was no such thing even as Christmas at that time, as Jesus hadn’t even been born yet.  The original text is speaking of people cutting down a tree and making idols out of them to worship.  However, it is probably true that many pagans and others worshiped trees and decorated their barns or home with evergreen boughs on New Years to chase away the devil. 

One tradition about the origin of Christmas trees is that St. Boniface in the early 700’s cut down an oak tree when he was with some new Christians who were formerly Pagans.  Oaks were sacred to Pagans.  When cut down, the oak tree split into four pieces (some say in the form of a cross), and in the middle of the stump was an evergreen tree growing.  This symbolized the death of Paganism, replaced by Christianity.  

Another tradition says that Martin Luther (1483-1546) brought a fir tree into his home and decorated it with candles which they lit, to remind him of seeing the stars through the branches  or the light dancing on the snow when in the forest.  German Lutherans are credited by many with starting the modern Christmas Tree traditions.

Christmas trees can remind us of Jesus in many ways: Jesus was crucified “on a tree”; evergreens keep their green needles year round, signifying everlasting life; the triangular shape can remind us not only of Jesus but of the Trinity; the top of the tree comes to a point, pointing to heaven; chopping the tree down can symbolize His death on the cross; setting the tree back up in our homes is a symbol of His resurrection.  

So it is all in your perspective and how you look at the tree as to whether it is a hindrance or a help to your faith in Jesus Christ.  God is with us as our tree of life, who died on a tree and rose to give us eternal life by grafting us into Him as his branches.  May we branch out to others and bring them in to Him!

1 Peter 2:24 ESV  He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 

Dearest Jesus, as we continue to prepare to celebrate your birth, help us to keep our focus on you in all that we see and do.  May our faith and devotion be a witness to what you have done for us and how you have come to save the whole world if only they would believe.  In your name we pray.  Amen  

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Song:

O CHRISTMAS TREE

Aretha Franklin

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Prayers are lifted up daily for you

 by the Devotional Writers and the Monthly Writing Staff

 of Women's Focus Ministries.

Blog Writers:

Jan Andersen, Sandy Billingham, Carol Steficek,   

 Brother Thomas Ukwute, Jody Ward,  Karen Bennett, 

Bre Miller, Cathy Friberg, and  Corinne Mustafa
Elizabeth McElderry, Betty Espindola,  Lynda Kinnard
Amie Spruiell, and Debbie Rodriguez

Occasional Contributors:

Kathy Bireley, Terri Baker, Beverley Napier,
 Kelly Dobyns, Glenna Williamson,  

Amie Spruiell, and Lisabeth Lipp.