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What Christmas Is All About 12/22

John 3:16-18

16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

How do you explain the meaning of Christmas in just a few words? The best way I know is today’s scripture John 3:16 "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."

No one could out do what God has already done. No one could give a greater gift than what God has already given. I would like to consider what the meaning of Christmas this week.

Christmas means a lot of things to a lot of different people.
To some, Christmas is…

• A time of shopping and spending
• A time of drinking and Partying
• A time of traveling and entertaining
• A time for family gatherings and family disagreements
• A time for getting something

What is the real meaning of Christmas? For me Christmas is a time for remembrance, Christmas is a time for Giving, Christmas is a time for Saving, Christmas is a time for Changing, and Christmas is a time for rejoicing!

Yes! Even with the all the bad economic news we are hearing about the state of our economy, Christmas is a time for rejoicing! Rejoicing in the uniqueness of Jesus’ life, His teachings, His miracles, His prophesies, His birth, His death, and more importantly Jesus’ resurrection! YES REJOICE!

In my readings I have found a comparison of Santa Claus and our Lord Jesus in a piece called "Santa Versus Jesus" Check this out!

• Santa lives at the North Pole. Jesus lives everywhere.
• Santa rides in a sleigh. Jesus rides on the wind and walks on the water.
• Santa comes once a year. Jesus is an ever present help.
• Santa comes down your chimney. Jesus stands at your door of your heart and knocks.
• Santa fills your stockings with goodies. Jesus supplies all your needs.
• You have to wait in line to see Santa. Jesus is as close as the mention of His name.
• Santa lets you sit in his lap. Jesus holds you in His hands.
• Santa has a belly like a bowl of jelly. Jesus has a heart of love.
• Santa’s little helpers make new toys. Jesus makes new lives.
• Santa puts gifts under your tree. Jesus became our gift of everlasting life!

Now the truth is nobody wants to stop the celebration, that's not the idea, not the commercial world anyway, they want the money, not the government, they need the taxes that buying and selling and traveling produces and not the party goers, they want the fun. If we can just have the party without Jesus, everybody will be happy. The birthday of Jesus, frankly, has become very useful. It has immense pragmatic value, if you can just keep Jesus out of it. You might get the impression based upon that that Jesus is an insignificant person. No one could ever out do what God has done. No one could give a greater gift than what God has already given.

In closing, it is a time like this to take every opportunity we can to make sure that people do understand what Christmas is really all about. Now I'm not defending December 25 as if it were actual day that Jesus was born, that's very unlikely. I'm not defending all of the stuff that goes on around Christmas, but I am saying if the world is going to give us an opportunity to focus on the birth of Jesus Christ, let's take advantage of it. Let's take advantage of it in order to worship and praise and rejoice in Him because that's right and in order to speak of Him to those who so much need to hear. There are foolish people who want to eliminate Jesus Christ, keep the party just get rid of the reason. And in so doing in their effort to gain the world, they lose their soul. We have a tremendous responsibility to them. Continue to “WATCH AND PRAY” to truly have a personal “ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS!”

Have a Merry Christmas!
In the name of Jesus… Amen!

By: Elder Michael L. Hargett
Copyright 2008 © MinTech, Inc.
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