I cannot believe we are halfway through December already. Seems like this entire year has simply flown by. But believe it or not, once again, December has come and with it, all the joys of the holiday season. But before we get so caught up in the hustle and bustle and the busyness of the season, I think we all should to take a moment and stop and ask ourselves, "What is the real meaning of Christmas?"
Is Christmas really about the presents under the tree? The colorful, festive lights in the yards and parks around town? Is Christmas all about the Christmas music playing everywhere? Is it the beautiful Christmas cards we exchange with all of our acquaintances?Is it the lovely dinners and get togethers with family and friends? Is it all about the Christmas programs and activities we do as a family or as a church? Is it the stockings hanging in our living room? Are all these things that come to mind when we think of the holidays really Christmas?
It's true all of these things have become a part of the Christmas holiday as we know it. All of these things are very much ingrained in our celebrations and all of them are wonderful ways to enjoy the holiday season. But too often, we lose focus on what the true meaning of Christmas is.
Oh, I know, if you ask us, we all will say Jesus is the reason for the season. But sadly, we sometimes don't live like He is.
Often, We focus so much on the other aspects of Christmas that the true meaning of Christmas, Jesus himself, seems to be an afterthought..."oh yeah, Jesus..." but I, for one, want to stop and make time and space for Jesus in my heart and home this Christmas season. I sure don't want to be like the innkeeper in the Christmas story who has no room for Jesus.
A magazine article in The American magazine once defined the true meaning of Christmas as:
"To give up one's very self — to think only of others — how to bring the greatest happiness to others — that is the true meaning of Christmas." In my opinion, this is quite true. It is a vital part of Christmas: but it was ultimately our precious Savior who "gave up his own self" to redeem mankind. He, the God of all Power, left all of Heaven's Glory to come down to earth...to take on the form of a lowly newborn babe and subject himself to the constraints of mankind -- to be born and live among us and eventually die for us to restore that fellowship between God and man-- and to make a way for us to be united with Divinity again. wow... What an awesome thing! God BECAME man in order to redeem us from destruction and restore us back to God. That is truly the message of Christmas. God LOVED us so much that He became like us in order to show us that great love in action.
Likewise, we, too, should seek to emulate his example by giving of our own self to others.
Yes, the true meaning of Christmas is LOVE indeed. John 3:16-17 says, "“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
Christmas is the celebration of this
incredible act of LOVE.
WHY does God love us so much?
Because He IS LOVE itself---
1 John 4:8-12, & 17 tells us:
[8] He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. [9] In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. [10] Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. [11] Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. [12] No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. [17] Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
So, the real meaning of Christmas is the story of God himself becoming a man.
Why would the God of Glory do such a thing, you may ask? Simply because He loves us! Why was Christmas necessary? Because we needed a Savior!
Why do we celebrate Christmas each year? Out of gratitude for what God did for us. We give each other gifts in remembrance of the greatest gift we have received-- the gift of a Savior.
Putting that in focus sure helps our perspective when it comes to gift giving and beyond. It's not about the gifts... it should be about the GIVER!! The Giver of the most important gift of all --salvation. It's not about the music, it's about WHO we are singing about... When you go view all the beautiful Christmas lights, they can remind you that God is the Light of the World!
God loved us so much that He provided a way — the only Way — for us to spend eternity with Him. He gave His only Son to take our penalty for our sins. He paid the price in full, and we are free from condemnation when we accept His FREE gift of love. "“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
So yes, Christmas was meant to be a season of great joy. It is a time to stop and remember God showing His great love for us. So, enjoy the season with all of your fun holiday traditions and celebrations but don't forget to stop long enough to reflect on His great sacrifice. Remember to rejoice ! After all, the true meaning of Christmas is the celebration of God's ultimate gift: the birth of Jesus-- our way back to God. If it had not been for Jesus, we would be lost in our trespasses and sins--without hope, destined for death and destruction BUT GOD...!
Let's all stop for a moment this Christmas season and remember the gift we have been given by Emmanuel-- God with us--a God who care enough to come down to dwell among us and died for us to make a way for us to come back to Him.
From my heart to yours,
Tiphanie 💕
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