Keeping Christ In Christmas

Imagine a couple of your friends are throwing you a surprise party for your birthday! They brought a huge cake with your name on it, have your name in big lights and pictures of you all over the room. All of your good friends and family and long distant relatives are their to celebrate this wonderful time with you. Everyone's singing songs, some even with your name in it and are having a wonderful time. However there is one little problem. Everyone forgot to invite you!? To your own birthday party.

Christmas is only a couple days away and I'm sure everyone is getting into the spirit; putting up their Christmas tree, decorating the house, playing Christmas music and of course, Christmas shopping! This is one of my most favorite times of the year. Just the season it self is so warming and beautiful. Watching the snow fall and playing in the snow with my son. Stopping by houses, looking at their decorations on their lawn. There is one house in particular that is near me that has their whole front lawn in lights and synchronized to a radio station that plays Christmas music; the most beautiful and my favorite house of all that I have seen. This year is my son's second Christmas and with him getting older and actually understand the idea that he will be getting presents that he has to wait until Christmas morning to open, it is very much exciting to watch. We are making traditions and lots of memories. 

It is my main priority that I always remind my son as the years go on of the true meaning of this wonderful season. It isn't all about the wonderful presents he will receive or the lights and decorations, but the birth of Christ. I look forward to making true traditions that will help him understand that this holiday is about Christ, not ourselves. 

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,“Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,  and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. (Luke 2:13-20)

God sent His only Son to be born of a virgin to save the human race. That's what Christmas is all about. So with all the presents, music and decorations, are you really considering the meaning of Christmas? Or are you completely overlooking the reason like many other people in the world?

I would like this message to go out to parents with young children. It is our children's generation that will be leading this world after us. Let's try and make sure that they aren't being left out on the real meaning of life. And with this lesson right here on real meaning of the season, it's a wonderful start. With December being the joyous and festival month that it is, it is also a month to celebrate our Savior being born. 

Imagine if your friends and family were throwing a surprise party for you and had everything and everyone you ever wanted to be at the party; however they forgot to invite you. That to me just sounds so silly. Think about it. Let's keep Christ in Christmas, because it truly is about Him, isn't it? Remember that without Christ's birth, we wouldn't have the salvation we have today. We wouldn't have the knowledge that we can have eternal life through Christ, Himself. Let's stop overlooking the real purpose of this season. God loved us so much that He sent His one and only Son to be born of a virgin and to be crucified for our sins. That is the most amazing story ever told. So always remember, what is a birthday party with out the birthday 'Boy'.

Merry Christmas!

I must give the utmost respect to Pastor Greg Laurie, who I base the majority of my post off of. With his very encouraging and uplifting messages he gives 5 days of the week, I am becoming a stronger Christian. I couldn't just post this without giving him complete credit. He preaches daily on www.Harvest.org and has daily devotions, sermons and articles to read. I hope this post and the rest encourage you just as Pastor Greg Laurie does for me. God Bless You!