Deliberately Celebrate Christmas

What is your perspective? What will your Christmas celebration be like this year? The one whose birth we celebrate also said this:  “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ do that.” (Luke 6:32-33)

If our Christmas celebration is limited to an exchange of gifts with those who love us, we have not even begun to take the first steps of faith in our Christmas celebration. Be sure to keep the right Christmas perspective this year.

Can I ask you a question? Have you ever done anything to deliberately celebrate the birth of Christ during Christmas? Or is your Christmas celebration the same thing you have always done – the same traditions your family has always observed? The same traditions your family observed even before you or they were Christians. If you were not a Christian, would your celebration be any different?

Christians celebrate Christmas to remember the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and God's plan to save humanity:
 

• Incarnation: Christians believe that Christmas is a time to remember the incarnation, or when God became human in the form of Jesus. 
• Salvation: Christians believe that Jesus' birth was part of God's plan to bring salvation to people everywhere. 
• Fulfillment of prophecy: Christians believe that Jesus' birth was a fulfillment of prophecy. 
• Sacrifice: Christians believe that Jesus' sacrifice on the cross saved humanity.​
• Love: Christians believe that Jesus proclaimed love, peace, and justice, and that Christians should follow his example. 

The significant message is about Jesus Christ. George W. Truett said it well: “Christ was born in the first century, yet he belongs to all centuries. He was born a Jew, yet He belongs to all races. He was born in Bethlehem, yet He belongs to all countries.”

Merry Christmas!

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