I've heard a lot of discussion this Christmas season about "Merry Christmas" versus "Happy Holidays!" In an effort to be politically correct, certain corporations are requiring their employees to say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas."
We were shopping at the mall the other night and received a "Happy Holidays" greetings from the store clerk at the end of the sale. Kaitlyn responded with "Merry Christmas!" The store clerks face lit up as she warmly smiled and whispered "Merry Christmas" back to us. It's almost as if she was afraid her boss would hear her.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
We want to place the right emphasis on Christmas...and we want to get it right! It seems our focus can get distorted REAL QUICK if we're not careful. We want the tree, the decorations, the lights, the eggnog and the presents. We want everyone to be happy. We want to be able to get and give plenty. We want peace and joy to abound.
In reality, Christmas often turns into a major hassle. You rush around and are pushed for time...you spend money you don't have for people you don't like to acquire things they don't even want or need. (smile) In our struggle to get it right, we often get it dead wrong and end up making ourselves and others miserable.
I believe God wants us to get it right! I believe that He is not so interested in our having a white Christmas as He is interested in our having a RIGHT Christmas. So, how can we have a right Christmas? What do we need to understand and change in our lives that will allow Christmas to be a time of blessing and wonder instead of being a time of stress and tension? Luke 2:1-20 reveals some components of Christmas that are absolutely essential if we are to have a RIGHT Christmas.
These instructions are like a bag of parts that come with that gift you bought your children. If that gift is going to function in the manner for which it was designed, all of the component parts are going to have to be in the right places. If anything is missing; if anything is left out, that item will not function properly.
2. We need the right MIRACLE - Christmas isn't about tinsel and trees; gifts or glitter; it's not even about family or friends. The true essence of Christmas is about the birth of a baby. Not just any baby, but a baby WHO was and is God in human flesh. When we get a handle on WHO Jesus is, our whole concept of Christmas changes forever. It is about God becoming a man to die for sinners.
3. We need the right MESSAGE - Remember when the angel appeared to the shepherds? The shepherds were afraid, but the angel offered them a message of grace, peace, hope, blessing, joy and salvation.
- It was a PERSONAL message, "unto you."
- It was a POWERFUL message, "a Savior!"
- It was a PROFOUND message, "which is Christ the Lord."
- It was a POINTED message, "this shall be a sign unto you..."
That ought to be our message all through the year. God help us to go and tell a lost and dying world about a living, loving Savior WHO can give them grace, peace, hope, blessing, joy and salvation. Do you know the real meaning of Christmas? Is that the message others receive as they watch you live your life? Do you believe the message? Are you sharing the message?
4. We need the right MOTIVE - What a sight it must have been to see a multitude of angels as far as the eye could see...praising God! Their only mission and motive that night was to exalt God Almighty for the great work He had accomplished! When Christmas ceases to be about what you can get or how much you give and it starts being about how you can glorify God, you are on your way to having a right Christmas. What matters most to you at Christmas? Bringing glory to God or keeping all the Christmas traditions? Finding yourself before Him in praise and worship or driving yourself crazy shopping, trying to get it all done? Rejoicing in what He has done for you, or complaining about how hard things are this year?
5. We need the right MINISTRY - The shepherds heard the message and they heeded it. They went to Bethlehem and they found Jesus. They believe what they heard and what they saw and they left Him to share Him with everyone they met. That is a great way to demonstrate how much you love Him at Christmas.
Are you assembling a RIGHT CHRISTMAS? If not, get a hold of the things mentioned above and start right now. Are you saved? If not, come to Jesus and let Him give you the best Christmas you ever had!
