Carols, Christmas lights, parties, presents, food, drinks, shopping, frustration …
Festive music and carols fill the air in almost every shop, restaurant and Shopping Centre. Christmas songs with no spiritual meaning or message are piped through most shopping malls. According to a recent survey, only about one in a 100 cards with any vague reference to the true Christmas message are to be found on the shelves in major High Street stores.
Just recently a very dear friend of mine felt the Lord leading her to make a personalized Christian Christmas card. On the front cover It stated: “Gifts are for unwrapping”. Inside the card: “For God so loved the world (that includes you and me) that He gave His one and only Son” (John 3:16a). It followed on with the question: “Have you unwrapped that gift? …”
Many recipients of that card responded by saying “this certainly reminds us what the real meaning of Christmas is”. Praise God for those who responded and may His Holy Spirit work in the hearts of all those who received that card – Christians and non-Christians alike.
The world is shouting “Away with the manger!” Christians should be challenging the world to “put Christ back into Christmas”. Yes, many of the practices at Christmas stem from heathen and pagan festivals and practices, but, despite that, the Christian church uses this time each year to remember the first coming of Jesus to this earth. He was born as a human baby. He was born, as that famous carol states so beautifully: “born that man no more may die; … Born to give them second birth”.
This Christmas, let us meditate on the fact that Jesus came with a purpose – to save people (you and me) from our sins and to give us hope and eternal life.
As we remember His first coming, be ever mindful of the fact that He is coming back again. Having given us time (more than enough) to repent, to turn away from our sins and to live for Him, He will come as Judge for all those who have rejected Him, His gift of salvation and eternal life.
Let us also, this Christmas, ensure we are ready for His return. “Be ye also ready, for the Son of Man cometh at a time when ye think not!” (Luke 12:40)
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