Most people in the US believe that Christmas is special. Many Christians see Christmas as amazing because God came down to earth as a man.
I wrote this article as a pastor almost forty years ago. And I find it to still be true.
Is Christmas amazing to you?
Read on to see why I believe it is and what difference it should make to us.
“For to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Luke 2:11
Christmas, God and history
God stepped into history through the birth of Christ. He is God’s chosen entrance to human hearts. He is no longer the Christ Child but Emmanuel (God with us). He is the Savior of the world, King of kings, Lord of lords, and the Great Shepherd. Christmas is wonderful if Christ is Jesus the risen Lord who freed us all from Satan’s power: if He is not considered a 2000-year-old baby, but the risen Lord of all creation. Glory to God for His coming then and in the near future. Are you living a life worthy of the Savior that God gave the world?
Christmas was God’s intervention to change the world through Jesus.
God has intervened in history since man began to live on earth. After creating Adam and Eve, God would visit His creation by personally appearing to them in Eden. Adam and Eve were never surprised at His coming until after they had sinned because then they had lost pure fellowship with God. After sin entered the heart of man, people often missed opportunities of fellowship with God. Most men and women still miss fellowship with God because they are not coming together to encourage, strengthen, and pray for one another as God’s called-out people. Jesus said, “to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of mine, even the least of them, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:40).
How should we then live?
When I see people skip Bible study and church worship, I hurt for them because such behavior is hurtful to Jesus and the church He established. “Because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:16). It’s time “CHRISTIANS” lived like Jesus is Lord and not some benevolent spirit who lives in a cradle and always says “anything goes.” Christmas is a warning, as much as a provision, of the love of God. The warning is to people who are celebrating with no thought, commitment, or service to God that the same Jesus who came as the Christ Child will return as Judge of their eternal destiny.
Let the true joy of God light your life this Christmas with the Holy Spirit’s glowing presence. Live because you know the Savior; serve because of love to the Christ.
May God be with you to strengthen and spiritually empower you mightily in His service and fill us all with the spiritual Christmas glow.
© FJ Griffitts, Friendly Words, Ione Baptist Church, December 1985.
What do you think about why Christmas is special?
Investigate further why Christmas is special
Sam Moss writes about her experience with Christmas as a severely chronically ill woman.
Check out another article by FJ about Christmas.
