Luke 2:11-14 English Standard Version
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”[a]
Most everybody loves Christmas, especially the children and the retailers. However, the annual question that arises is “do we love and celebrate Christmas for the right reason?”
Christmas truly is a commercial enterprise in our Country. Immediately after Halloween, the Christmas decorations go up, the ads start coming and the Christmas carols are playing in retail stores.
Along with black Friday, Christmas generally puts the retail stores “in the black” for the year. So, we can see why they love the season and put great energy into the marketing of it. Believe me, savvy marketing can subconsciously move us in the direction the marketers want us to go.
Returning to the question above, think about your personal celebration of Christmas. Is it centered on Christ? Totally centered on celebrating and displaying the love and teachings of the Christ whose birthday we claim to honor?
Some of you might be thinking “how can we make it better?”
How about this rebellious idea? How wonderful would It be if Americans called off our commercial Christmas for a year and instead used the week of Christmas to provide food for needy folks; or coats for needy kids; or money to help needy families pay their heating bills; or a multitude of other wonderful things we could do to help those less fortunate than we are. Foregoing the wants of our kids, spouse and even ourselves and concentrating on making life a bit better for someone who is truly in need.
This would be more than just telling someone about the birth of Christ. This would be living and displaying the love of Christ.
Obviously, the kids and retailers wouldn’t be happy, but think of the lesson it would teach our children. It would teach them that Christmas isn’t just about trees, ornaments, food, parties and getting what we want, but rather it is about the love of Christ and letting that love show through our lives.
There is really no point at all in celebrating Christ’s birth if we do not celebrate His life through our words, actions, deeds and attitudes. In total, displaying His love to all.
We should of course continue to give gifts to our loved ones, while teaching them the meaning of Christmas. However, if we truly want to celebrate the teachings of Christ this Christmas, we can easily find someone or some family that is in need. Let's not just celebrate His birth, let us celebrate and live His love and teachings.
Think about it.
RVH