Where is the Joy on Christmas?
Christmas can be a wonderful time of year or run the gamete from painful to depressing. It can be a time of mixed emotions. Often there is a sense of sadness and grief and peace is nowhere to be found. If we think about circumstances, we can get a distorted view of an event that changed history.
No one loves the decorations and festivities of Christmas more than I do. I have a tree in every room and the normal decorations of our home are packed away and replaced with every kind of Christmas decoration. But that is not what Christmas is about. It isn't Santa, presents, music and pageants. It isn't about family and parties.
"Christ"mas is a reflection on and the celebration of the birth of Christ. It is interesting that people who don't believe in the Savior or have time for Him in their lives celebrate Christmas. They do it for the "stuff" that comes with the Holiday (holy day). Santa, gifts and festivities are their focus. My husband overheard someone at a mall make the comment, upon seeing a Nativity, "Can you believe they are trying to bring religion into Christmas?" 2,000 years ago, God sent his Son, Jesus, to become the Savior of those who believe in Him. The story is told in the Gospels of the New Testament. Luke 2 is the most commonly read and referred to. It is a humble story but one that has impacted the world more than any other. It is a story known around the world, in all cultures.
Our circumstances change, but the story of God's love and the birth of the Savior remains the same. If we look for joy in our circumstances, it may not be there, or if it is, it could be gone in a moment. Joy in the Lord is constant and keeps things in perspective.
I wish you the real joy of Christmas as you celebrate the birth of the Son of God. He came as the first Christmas gift, to give a gift that no one else can give, no money can buy and is the only gift that won't be left behind when our life is over.
John 3:16 says it so clearly, "For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him (Jesus) will not perish, but have everlasting life."
May you know the joy of God's gift and the true meaning of Christmas. Merry Christmas!
No one loves the decorations and festivities of Christmas more than I do. I have a tree in every room and the normal decorations of our home are packed away and replaced with every kind of Christmas decoration. But that is not what Christmas is about. It isn't Santa, presents, music and pageants. It isn't about family and parties.
"Christ"mas is a reflection on and the celebration of the birth of Christ. It is interesting that people who don't believe in the Savior or have time for Him in their lives celebrate Christmas. They do it for the "stuff" that comes with the Holiday (holy day). Santa, gifts and festivities are their focus. My husband overheard someone at a mall make the comment, upon seeing a Nativity, "Can you believe they are trying to bring religion into Christmas?" 2,000 years ago, God sent his Son, Jesus, to become the Savior of those who believe in Him. The story is told in the Gospels of the New Testament. Luke 2 is the most commonly read and referred to. It is a humble story but one that has impacted the world more than any other. It is a story known around the world, in all cultures.
Our circumstances change, but the story of God's love and the birth of the Savior remains the same. If we look for joy in our circumstances, it may not be there, or if it is, it could be gone in a moment. Joy in the Lord is constant and keeps things in perspective.
I wish you the real joy of Christmas as you celebrate the birth of the Son of God. He came as the first Christmas gift, to give a gift that no one else can give, no money can buy and is the only gift that won't be left behind when our life is over.
John 3:16 says it so clearly, "For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him (Jesus) will not perish, but have everlasting life."
May you know the joy of God's gift and the true meaning of Christmas. Merry Christmas!
Comments
Post a Comment