One of my favorite times of the year is fast approaching. I love the Christmas season. The combination of family together, the beauty of the Christmas tree decorated and beautifully lit, the good food that I eat too much of, the snow on the ground (hopefully) and yes the presents under the tree all leave me feeling warm and cozy inside. And although I have been called a grinch because I don't like most Christmas music... it's still one of my favorite times of the year.
Sometimes it's hard to keep perspective in the world we live in. Christmas for many people has become just another money-making holiday that is so commericalized that most of the world has lost sight of the true meaning of the season.
These days we live in a society obssessed with political correctness. It's not politically correct to say "Merry Christmas". Instead we're supposed to say "Happy Holidays" or "Season's Greetings" or replace Christ with simply an "x", lest we offend anyone. I've never been politically correct and I'm not about to start being that way now.
Why is it that anything that includes the name "Christ" in it has to be found as offensive? I believe it's because the name of Jesus Christ is powerful. And what the world needs most is to know Jesus Christ intimately as Lord and Saviour. The devil knows his time is short and he is working overtime to keep people from the truth.
Christmas is all about Jesus Christ coming to this earth in human form and redeeming us from our hopeless state. And I'm sure that Satan loves it when the world forgets about that. Whenever I'm at the store or anywhere where people say "Happy Holidays", I have made it a point to say "Merry Christmas" instead.
We as Christians have been given the ministry of reconcilation (2 Cor. 5:19) to tell the world of what Jesus has done. What better time to do that than right now during this Christmas season? In Luke 2:14 the angels are announcing the birth of Christ and the Bible says, "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" The word for "peace" here in the Greek is, "eirene" and means, "A state of rest, quietness, and calmness; an absence of strife; tranquilty and includes a harmonious relationship between God and men, men and men, nations and families."
The world we live in is in desperate need of this message. Let's take it to them and fulfill the Great Commission. Merry CHRISTMAS!!!
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