I Celebrate the Day

The Christmas season does seem to bring out both the good and bad in people. In general, most people are willing to give and spend quality time with their loved ones. However, some people tend to get too caught up in the aspect of giving and receiving that they either focus totally on the needs and wants of others or they focus on themselves providing these things. In either case, the true meaning, reason and focus of this special day, Jesus Christ, is ignored.

For someone who may not be a Christian or believe in God, Christmas is just a day that all of one's funny (and sometimes annoying) family members get together, eat, and exchange gifts with people one may or  may not even know or like. There's no purpose, passion, or hope found in the celebration of this day and at the end of the festivities, everyone returns to their own homes, continuing to live out life in separation of each other for another year.

However, for a Christian, Christmas means (or should mean) so much more than this. Since the very moment that sin entered into the world, God has been extending His hand of grace towards humanity to save us (Genesis 3:14-15). Not because anything good we have or could have done (Titus 3:4-7), but because God saw us as valuable and precious and wanted to have us as His sons and daughters. The only way that the bridge between God and us could be rebuilt was through God sending His most precious thing, His Son, Jesus.

Born to a poor virgin girl that was engaged to be married to a carpenter, Jesus, being fully God, pure and holy, entered the realm of sinful humanity. He was born in a manger built of trees that He made with animals dwelling there that He created, and was born to sinful yet humble and submissive servants of Himself. In light of being mocked and ridiculed, He suffered, died and was resurrected, giving life and hope for all who would believe in Him (John 1:12). 

Indeed, Christmas is the ultimate celebration of the coming of our Savior into the world but for those with heavy hearts with the loss of a close loved one, sometimes this great message can be forgotten. Thanks be to God that He didn't send Jesus to save us for only our current salvation - salvation from punishment - but to a life everlasting spent with Him (John 3:16). The great thing is that Jesus is coming back again! All of our current struggles - both externally and internally - are all temporary in light of the hope that we have in Him. 

As you enjoy the rest of your Christmas festivities today, really remember the reason why this day marking the most special and important moment in history - the moment when the God of creation entered His creation to save it - all because of LOVE.

"I celebrate the day that You were born to die, so I could pray for You to save my life" - Relient K (click here to hear the song)