It's finally here- December and Christmas! The most anticipated holiday of them all. Unfortunately, for too many, the only anticipation they have is what presents will be under the tree on Christmas morning. As I write this on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, I'm seeing news stories of people fighting in stores to get the "most important gift." Others who arrived earlier have taken all but one, and now people, most usually parents, are pushing and shoving to get that last one. Somehow, many have forgotten the true reason we celebrate.
Christmas is indeed about giving, something the Apostle John pointed out in perhaps the most well-known verse in scripture, John 3:16. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth should not perish but have everlasting life." Christmas is a celebration, a "Christ mass" that every believer should hold in their hearts. But again, for some, "Jesus is the Reason for the Season" has transitioned into "Ho, Ho, Ho, Happy Holidays!". Christmas is a reminder that God sent a baby in a manger who would eventually become the Christ on the cross, through whom all of mankind could receive the gift of salvation!
In a few days, I'll climb up into the attic and begin getting down all of the Christmas decorations, the tree, the ornaments, the wrapping paper, and the Christmas cards. But our most revered decorations are the Nativity sets; we have about 15 of them. Each set is put out reverently, and I pause to reflect on each piece, especially the baby Jesus. I think about the joy of the shepherds as they heard the angels singing the heavenly chorus. I consider the thoughts of the three wise men as they looked upon the newborn king and presented him with their gifts. I wonder what Joseph thought when he humbly realized that he was now the earthly father to the Son of God. And I can't begin to imagine Mary's feelings about how she, an insignificant teenager from a poor family, should be the one God chose to give birth to the promised Messiah.
Christmas- the season of giving. My prayer is that every one of us, as we approach Christmas day, will be filled with the joy of the shepherds, the reverence of the wise men, the humility of Joseph, and the peace of Mary as she surrendered herself to the purpose of God. Jesus will always be the reason for the season, and greetings should always be "Merry Christmas" rather than "Happy Holidays." Only if we allow the baby in the manger to dwell in our hearts every day can we treasure God's greatest gift. Christmas- it's about Christ!
Ray
