The Christmas Tree

Despite some Christmas Confusion, the Christmas tree can be a wonderful symbol for the tree of life.

🌲 God placed the tree of life in the garden of Eden (Genesis 2:9). However, when Adam sinned, mankind lost our right to eat from that life-giving tree.

Genesis 3:22:  And the LORD God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever."


God couldn't allow sinful men to live eternally, and we couldn't do anything to restore that privilege. We needed a Savior, and Jesus was our longing fulfilled (Proverbs 13:12).

His victory over sin and death restored our privilege:

🌲 Revelation 22:14: Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 

If you decorate with a Christmas tree, let it be an "evergreen" reminder of your eternal life in Christ!

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These passages also speak of the tree of life: Revelation 2:7 and Revelation 22:1-5.  

Note: If you have concerns about Christmas trees, don’t use one. I don’t want to persuade anyone to use a tree against their conscience (Romans 14). 

If you have questions, I encourage you to read these articles:

Should we have a Christmas tree?  

Do Christmas Trees have Pagan Roots?

After reading many articles, this is my conclusion:

It's possible that there could be a loose connection between Christmas trees and ancient pagan practices, long forgotten. But it's also possible that Christmas trees originated in German celebrations of Christmas. Neither view can be proved conclusively. We need to ask ourselves what the tree symbolizes for us. If we associate it with pagan practices, we shouldn't have a tree. If it has no pagan connection for us, we can let it symbolize the tree of life or other symbols of the tree found in Scripture.

Bible Love Notes

That’s Just the Way I Am

▻“I'm sorry I got angry, but I’m a passionate person.” 

▻“I’m sorry I’m late, but I'm a laid-back kind of person.”

▻“I'm sorry I offended you. You’ll just have to get used to my sense of humor.”

▻“I'm sorry if my bluntness hurt your feelings, but that’s the way I was raised.”

Have you ever heard fake-apologies like these? Have you ever given them?

These "apologies" are excuses that keep us clothed in our old sin nature (Ephesians 4:22-24).

But Christ-followers are called to be serious about “working out” our salvation (Philippians 2:12).(1) 

“We have an obligation” to live according to God’s Spirit and renew our minds so that we’re “able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 8:12; Romans 12:2).

So let's quit excusing our sins and start doing something about them. 

See No Regrets and How to Say I'm Sorry.

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Let these Scriptures inspire you today:

2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

Psalm 51:10: "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." 

Ephesians 4:22-24: "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."  

(1) Philippians 2:12: "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling." 

This is not the same as working to gain salvation. Salvation is a free gift. This is our response to the free gift of salvation, a way we show our love for Christ. Christ said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments" (John 14:15).

Bible Love Notes

#8. Blessed are Those Who are Persecuted for Righteousness

Blessed are those who are persecuted 

because of righteousness, 

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Matthew 5:10

Christians are commanded to do the right things even when we could benefit from doing the wrong things (Psalm 15:4). But this beatitude is talking about more than that. It’s talking about being persecuted when we do the right things.

Scripture promises that “everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12). 

In our present culture, doing the right thing often involves unashamedly speaking up for God's truth (Luke 9:26).

If we speak about creation, we may be mocked as "anti-intellectual." If we speak about God’s loving commands against sexual immorality, we may be called "haters." If we speak up for unborn babies, we may be labeled "anti-choice."

How do we cope with these insults and keep doing the right things?

1 Peter 2:19 says we can bear up under this mockery because we “are conscious of God.”

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Even though this is considered the final beatitude, I’ll address verses 11 and 12 in next Monday's devotion.

Bible Love Notes