Merry Christmas, not Xmas
There are forces at work trying to take Christ out of Christmas.
Happy Holidays, Seasons greetings, instead of Merry Christmas.
I used to see Merry Xmas on all the boxes with Christmas decorations and sometimes on store windows. People would say, “It’s just an abbreviation, shorter/fewer words to save time and space”……Lame!
Anytime you take away from Christ you diminish the beauty, the Love, and the power of Christmas.
I think we as Christians know better; however, if we’re not careful, we can allow little compromises to slip in and slowly remove Christ from Christmas too.
Focusing on presents, rather than His presence.
Running around doing Christmasy things(shopping, decorating, baking/eating, entertaining, parties), instead of celebrating Christ.
Zipping around to see persons, places, and things, instead of slowing down and meditating on who the baby Jesus is, and why He came.
Seeing many people in December without trying to point them to our Savior.
All those things I mentioned are not bad things, lets just not give them more of a priority than the One who Christmas is all about!
Imagine if you had a birthday party for yourself and people came over and gave gifts to each other, talked, hugged, laughed with and enjoyed each other; and no one payed attention to you at all……
Would Jesus look at any of us and/or our households during the Christmas season and feel that way?
Something to think about:
How about taking some time out, maybe with a cup of coffee or tea, and open your Bible and read the Christmas story(Matthew 1-2, Luke 1-2); and pray to the Lord and say, “Lord, You gave me the free gift of eternal life and Your presence, what gift would you like me to give You this season?
And actually listen for God to speak to your heart, something He would be pleased to see you do, or stop doing.
Christmas is Immanuel-God with us! Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23.
And this is who He is:
Isaiah 9:6-For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
During December we are celebrating Advent, the arrival of Jesus. He is…….
*The HOPE of Christmas,
*The PEACE of Christmas,
*The JOY of Christmas,
Now may the God of HOPE fill you with all JOY and PEACE in believing, that you may abound in HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 14:13
*The LOVE of Christmas.
For God so LOVED the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
Keep Christ at the center of your life this Christmas.
Merry Christmas and God bless you!
Pastor Marty
