Christmas
Good day to each of you reading this article—I am taking a break from the Ten Commandments to provide my thoughts on the Christmas holiday.
As I write in the United States, isn’t it interesting that throughout the world, many countries celebrate the Christmas holiday.
We, in the USA, celebrate the Christmas holiday very early—many stores begin rolling out Christmas merchandise in September—that’s right September. Other stores wait until October to roll out the Christmas merchandise to capture the customer dollar.
Is this what Christmas has become? The retailer holidays? One bit of good news, at least the bulk of the stores are closed on Christmas day, but how long before that goes the same way that Thanksgiving Day has met its fate?
Is this a bah humbug moment? No, let’s be honest, Christmas holidays are commercial holidays—Many of you will disagree, but you must admit that the current Christmas holidays are not the same as the Christmas holidays of the 1950’s, 1960’s or even the earlier 1970’s. The emphasis was placed on the birth of Jesus and not on retail.
Over the last couple of decades, Christmas has become a secular holiday built around retail sales. Some folks don’t believe in Christmas at all, in fact, they don’t celebrate this holiday.
Was Jesus born around December 25th? Was he born in the fall? Who is Santa Claus? Is this a pagan holiday? Why have a Christmas Tree? Questions arise this time of the year to which I can’t answer. But I can say without a doubt that Jesus was born and we will celebrate his birth and life.
So what does one do—Here are my thoughts—If I were to sum up Christmas in one word—Christmas is Christ—Not X-mas—CHRIST mas—Let’s celebrate each day as Christmas and each day as Thanksgiving, not just one day or one hour?
Think about this—If you were given the gift of eternal life, wouldn’t that be the greatest gift that you could receive? What other religion can give you this gift?
Christmas is a personal holiday, a holiday for giving and sharing, for reminiscing and celebrating—Let us be more Christ-like as we prepare for the new year. Jesus always gave—his time, his talents, his love and his gifts to any and all who listened. Jesus did not complain, he did his Father’s will and set the example for each of us to do the same.
As the stress of the Christmas holidays come upon you, isn’t it comforting to know that you have a Saviour who toke on the sin of the world to save the world? What gift can you provide your family greater than the gift of eternal life?
Each of you remember John 3:16 but look at John 3:17—God did not send his son to condemn but save the world through him. Through the hustle and bustle, daily stress, and worry that brings this holiday closer, isn’t it wonderful to know we have the greatest gift ever—the gift of eternal life—Have you ever taken a couple of moments out of your day and stop to think how long eternity is?
Take 30 seconds and ponder this thought—How long is forever and ever and ever and ever? How many Christmas presents measure up to forever? Would you pick up your Bible before you celebrate Christmas and gather the family around and read the first and second chapter of Matthew.
The focus here is to unite the family and provide the reason to celebrate the Christmas holidays—the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us give thanks for the food that he has given us, the family united, the warmth of the house, the joy of knowing that you have the gift of eternal life, your sins are forgiven, the Bible as your guide and the blessings of breathing to enjoy what you have been given.
Each of us take full advantage of breathing, eating, hearing, seeing, walking, talking, and the full use of our senses and never give thanks for any of these blessings. Just think if you lost any of those presents and most of all what purpose would you have in life if you knew when you died then that would be it—no eternal life, no chance, just death and dust!
Let me close with the following PRAYER: Lord Jesus, Light of Light, the brightness of The Father’s glory, the express image of His person; be my light and my peace. You who raised Lazarus form the dead, I beg you—raise me from the death of sin. You who healed the sick, and gave sight to the blind, heal the diseases of my soul, and cleanse my heart of every desire but that of advancing Your glory. Amen
— Adapted from prayer John Wesley courtesy “Thy Chosen Word”.
To each of you reading, May Jesus be your honored guest, lighten your heart, fill your life and put your mind at rest. May He strengthen the ties that bind you, to those you really love. And touch your life in such a way, you will forever know His love—From a Christmas Wish by Brooks Alden.
So well said—Receive the Omniscient Gift—The gift of Eternal Life.
May you Bless God each and Thank him for ALL—All Blessings & All Gifts for the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Psalms 24:1 (NIV)
