“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
(Isaiah 9:6) There are many traditions that we observe during the Christmas season….we put up Christmas trees decked with pretty decorations, burn Yule logs, send Christmas cards, go to church, go caroling, go shopping, prepare family dinners, etc., the list goes on. But are these what make Christmas special? Christmas fills us with a feeling of wonder and awe; but it is not the day that is critical, nor the customs that are observed. Christmas is more than a day of traditionalism, commercialism, materialism, and indulgence. Christmas celebrates the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. C.S. Lewis wrote, “The central miracle asserted by Christians is the Incarnation….Every other miracle prepares for this, or exhibits this, or results from this….It was the central event in the history of the Earth – the very thing that the whole story has been about.” Christmas revolves around a person – Jesus Christ! It is a time of praise and gratitude for all that He has done. He is to be magnified, lifted up, and exalted. In today’s society, many make light of the amazing truth of this greatest of all miracles. Thus, they cannot truly grasp nor understand the real significance of the birth of the King of kings and Lord of lords. The Christmas story is the account of God coming into a redeeming relationship with ordinary people. The key to living a full and meaningful life is first discovering this relationship with Jesus Christ, and then following the Lord on an amazing adventure through a life of faith. God is calling us to take part in making His message known, near and far. Jesus told His disciples that when the gospel is preached throughout the world, then His kingdom shall come. As a church, we desire to be God’s ambassadors in ushering individuals into the Kingdom of God wherever God leads us. Dear brothers and sisters, what or who will you be celebrating this Christmas? Let us celebrate Christmas in a God-honoring way: to come in awe, reverence, and gratitude to worship the One who humbled Himself and descended down to earth to become man, and by ascending again, He set us free from bondage into glory and freedom. So, who will you extend Christ’s invitation of a full and joyful life to this season? Jesus promised that the vitality and abundance and pure happiness that can be ours are closer than we think. This is the ultimate “Christmas gift” for those who are searching for meaning and direction in life. This is what makes Christmas special. The measure of influence in God’s kingdom is not position, but glory—the glory of God shining through your life and bringing the world to its knees. “Hark the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King. Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!” Merry Christmas! Comments are closed.
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