Well-it's THAT time of year again. It's the season of "Happy Holiday" greetings at work, school, and in public places. It's the time for the ACLU to attack every Nativity scene, every Christmas tree, and every mention of Jesus in the public arena. It's time for the Salvation Army, which started out as a CHRISTIAN organization-preaching Jesus Christ to the masses, to stand in front of your favorite store and say "Happy Holidays" to you. And it's the time to forget about Jesus all together by focusing on Satan Claus and how many gifts you can get.
When I grew up-in a Jewish home, and in a predominately Jewish neighborhood, there were many Catholic families. When somebody said "Merry Christmas" to me-I never got offended. I just accepted it, and said "Merry Christmas" back. They said "Happy Hanukkah" at the appropriate time. Nobody ever got offended.
When I was a young adult, I was running from God. People still said "Merry Christmas" to me, and I said it back-without being offended. Go figure.
Nowadays, everyone gets offended over something. The Muslims get offended because we say "Merry Christmas". The "Kwanzites" get offended because nobody understands what Kwanza is. The Atheists get offended because- that's what they do. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Jesus Christ the reason for the season? Without Christ, there is NO CHRISTMAS! As a planet, we went from celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior, to coveting things that we don't necessarily need, and usually cannot afford. We went from worshiping our Savior, to idolizing Satan Claus. I'm all for jolly fat men running around in red suits, but not when it takes our focus off of God, and on to less important things.
The good news this year is that more people are saying "Merry Christmas" instead of "Happy Holidays". I'm not sure why that is the case, but I can say that I am happy about it.
Satan will do whatever he can to take the focus off of Jesus and move it to something or somebody else. Let's be honest-anything or anybody else. We not only need to keep our eyes on Jesus Christ, but we need to take the opportunity to share The Gospel with as many people as possible. We're all going to come in contact with non-believers at work, school, at family gatherings, and even at Church. Let's tell them what this "season" is all about. Let's explain why God sent His one and only Son-Jesus Christ to earth in human form to live, be killed, and then resurrected from the grave. Let's explain that through His shed blood, our sins are forgiven, and we are REDEEMED-if we repent of our sins and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. And-let's explain what happens without Jesus.
Do not be ashamed to talk about Jesus, whose glorious birth is the real reason for the season! Share The Gospel! Glorify Jesus Christ in all that you say and do!
Have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Can I get an AMEN?
Isaiah 7:10-16
Luke 1:26-38, 2:6-20, John 1:14
