WHEN WE SAY “MERRY CHRISTMAS”

WHEN WE SAY “MERRY CHRISTMAS”

Saying “Merry Christmas” has a deeper meaning than many of us think. Over the years, the devil has tried to distort the true meaning of Christmas through many means. In fact, in some parts of the world today Happy Holidays is gradually replacing Merry Christmas. Nonetheless, Christmas hasn’t lost its true significance and never will because of God’s omnipotence. These days, at the mention of Christmas interesting thoughts come into the minds of many people but that doesn’t make it true meaning of Christmas.

WHAT CHRISTMAS IS NOT

As we still celebrate Christmas, take note that Christmas is not:

• • A change of name for a pagan festival. Whether the pagan festival happened on 25th December or not, that is not Christmas.
• • A family reunion. It’s definitely great for families to meet during this season but that’s not the real purpose of the season. In fact, family reunions can be on any day.
• • A time for unprecedented parties and celebration. This is the time some people get to eat some kind of food and drink some kind of drink the entire year but that’s not Christmas.
• • A holiday for resting. It’s a good thing that many organizations go on a break during this season but it doesn’t mean it’s resting time.
• • A season for Santa Clause or Father Christmas to give gifts to Children.

THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS

When we say “Merry Christmas” we are actually shouting three things: God’s integrity, God’s love and our hope in Christ.

• God said it’s the seed of the woman that will bruise Satan’s head…

  And I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head and you will strike his heel.” (Genesis 3:15) …and it was!
  But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, (Galatians 4:4)




• God said His Son will be born of a virgin…

  Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14) …and He was!
  When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. (Matthew 1:24-25)




• God said His Son would die for our sin…

  By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. He was assigned a grave with the wicked and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. (Isaiah 53:8-10) …and it happened!
  When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30)

CHRISTMAS AFFIRMS GOD’S LOVE

• Motivated by His love for us, God gave us Jesus so that we will escape “death”

  God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
  For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:13-14)




• God gave us Jesus simply because of His love for us

  For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

CHRISTMAS AFFIRMS OUR HOPE IN CHRIST

• Because of Christmas we are sure that we have eternal life

  For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
  And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1 John 5:11-12)




• Because of Christmas we are sure that all things work together for our good

  For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)
  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Rom 8:28)




• Because of Christmas we are sure that nothing can separate us from God’s love

  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 8:38-39)

MERRY CHRISTMAS...

Whenever you say Merry Christmas, you are actually saying,“Father, I thank you for the gift of Jesus on Christmas. I accept all you’ve done for me and in gratitude, I respond to you” by:

• • Spending time with you daily and always to remind myself of your love for me and receive more love from you (Lamentation 3:23, Psalm 5:3)
• • Serving others with my gifts and talents just as you served me with yours (1 Peter 4:10)
• • Growing my character daily to become more like Jesus (Romans 8:29, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Galatians 5:22-23)
• • Growing together with my spiritual family in Christ (2 Timothy 2:22, Hebrews 10:25)
• • Telling unbelievers about your love in my words and deeds (Matt 28:20, 2 Tim 4:2)

This is the story of Christmas and this is why you must remember to celebrate it each year. What can you do differently from now till the end of the year as you wish people a Merry Christmas?