Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

 

    

Merry Christmas!!!

These two words spark a celebration in the soul, especially for those who know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Often we think of Christmas as a birthday party for Jesus. It is that and so much more. The true essence of Christmas is that God took on flesh. Selah(what do you think about that)!!! Someone has said, what can be stranger than God in a manger?

     Well take a moment to think about this. Christ in us, the hope of glory. That's right. God in you. When we received Christ He came into our hearts in the person of the Holy Spirit. Wow! What a gift! What can be stranger than God in a manger? How about, God in you?

     In one of our favorite Christmas carols we sing the words, be born in us today. This wonderful savior, took on flesh, born of a virgin, born in a manger, come to lay down His life for the salvation of whosoever will believe, is literally come to dwell in the hearts and be the life of all who receive Him. Hallelujah, what a savior!!!

     There is only one perfect Christmas gift. That is Jesus! Christmas is only another opportunity to fulfill selfish desires unless Christ is central in all that we do in connection with this holy day. Christmas is only another opportunity for the retailers, ad men, and marketers to ply their skills, unless Jesus is central in this celebration.

     In fact, Christmas without Christ, is one of the grossest of pagan practices, for it exercises the senses to fulfill their every lust without giving recognition to the birth of the savior of the world. This wonderful baby came in fact to save us all from this very thing, our sin, our lustful desires, our gluttony, our alcoholism, our covetousness, our selfishness, our bitterness, envy and strife.

     When Christmas is celebrated as the birth of the savior, when Christmas is recognized as the plan of God set in motion to save fallen man, when Christmas goes beyond the lights, food, and other externals and finds Jesus in the human heart, then and only then do we find the joy and peace and love that God intends for every soul.

     Jesus is the reason for the season and Christmas without Christ is no Christmas at all.