Each year as Christmas approaches we are often reminded that we ought to get Christ back into the holiday or that Jesus is the reason for the season. The truth is that the December 25th festival and most of its trimmings have little, if anything, to do with the Lord Jesus Christ. And I must admit, to my shame, that I have in the past written articles suggesting that you cannot put Jesus into the season when he doesn’t have much to do with it in the first place. It’s taken some time – but here’s one old dog who’s just learned to fetch. Sounds to me it might not be a bad idea to bring the Lord into just about every day we live.
If this most grandiose of all holidays is to be celebrated – and so it must – might I offer the following helpful reminders:
- With all the giving and receiving, let us never forget the one who gave all so we could receive so much
- In all the eating and feasting, let us not forget he who invites us to come and dine with him
- Between all the singing and caroling, let us not forget he who puts a real song in our hearts
- Amongst all the exhortations to buy this or buy that, let us not forget he who by his blood bought us for his own
- With all the holiday football fanfare, let us not forget he who, instead of a pastime, offers us life’s highest game
- With all the festivities and parties of the season, let us not forget he who asks for our daily company
- In all the rushing and stress, let us not forget he who is the Prince of Peace
- In all the attention paid to the red-suited man, let us not forget he who spilled his blood for the remission and forgiveness of our sins
- With all the breaking of bread at Christmas dinners, let us not forget he whose body was broken for our healing
- In all the visiting and family gatherings, let us not forget he who will someday return for the greatest gathering of all time
Wait a minute. Now that we’re on a roll, why stop with Christmas? Perhaps we could just give him the first place in our hearts each and every day. After all, it’s a position he purchased with his own blood.
- When we awake, why not thank God for the resurrection of Jesus Christ?
- When we eat, why not remember the body and blood of Jesus Christ?
- While we work, why not consider all that the work of Jesus Christ has accomplished for us?
- When we go to sleep, why not consider that this just might be the night of his return?
I think you get the idea. So, bring Christ back into Christmas? Yes, definitely.
Luke 2:10, 11
“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”
Merry Christmas!