For many people Christmas is all about spending time with family. For others it is about presents and shopping and the hype that goes along with Santa and presents. For those estranged from family or with no loved one nearby Christmas is the loneliest time. It is no surprise that the suicide rate goes up at Christmas.
Christmas is the time when we celebrate the fact of God’s love sending His Own Son into the world as a human baby. As Michael Card puts it ‘Christmas is the celebration of the keeping of a promise… the promise that he would someday walk with us, that we might be His people and He our God… a saving promise.’
The Bible puts it like this. ‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which translated means, “God with us,” Matthew 1:23.
Sadly many people in our world don’t have an idea about this central truth of Christmas and they may never know unless we tell them. Look around, what can you do to share this good news with others or to help brighten Christmas for the lonely?
I love Christmas. I love going to the letter box and getting Christmas cards and letters from people. I love sending cards and choosing and buying gifts for others and seeing their joy when they open them. I like the truth of this thought, ‘The way you spend Christmas is far more important than how much’.
–Henry David Thoreau
There is so much I love about Christmas, like the carols that reflect the truth and message of Christmas and the Bible words as they tell the story never lose their appeal, the light, the tree, the preparations many of which I still need to do.
I like this anonymous quote which is on my calendar. ‘Christmas is a time of the heart, not just a date. Its meaning transcends time. Jesus was born to love us and fill our lives with himself.’
My prayer for each of you is that you will know His love, not just this Christmas but each day throughout the coming year.
Bible verses from The New American Standard Version
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