Have You Discovered Christmas?

“But the angel said unto them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.’”  (Luke 2: 10 - 11)

One of the most familiar holidays of the year is Christmas.  To children it is thought to be the most wonderful day of the year.

What does the Biblical account of the Christmas story tell us? 

1.) Christmas Is an Event:  It is history and the baby Jesus born in Bethlehem was one of the greatest events of all time.  Even though we cannot be sure of the actual date of Christ’s birth, Christmas is as real as our own birthday.

The baby that laid in the manger was the miracle we call the incarnation.  God became man without ceasing to be God. The creator of the world became a child. 

The birth of Christ has had more of an impact on the world than the birth of anyone else.  To anyone who is a Christian, becoming born again was a real event in their life and Jesus Christ has had more of an influence on them than anyone else ever has or ever will.

2.) Christmas Is an Evangel:  Christmas is good news because it proclaims that in spite of what we are, God loves us so much that He has provided a remedy from the destruction of sin.

“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance, ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.’” (1 Timothy 1: 15)  Since the time of Adam’s and Eve’s disobedience, God had promised a deliverer.  In the baby born in Bethlehem, God fulfilled His promise to bring salvation to the world.  By the sacrifice of Himself on the cross, Jesus overthrew the lawlessness of sin and He sets Christians free from sin’s bondage.

3.) Christmas Is an Experience:  As you think of how Jesus was delivered in a lowly stable, most certainly an unfit place for the birth of a king,  be reminded of His humility, for He came out of perfection to walk this guilty earth and suffer crucifixion for the  sins of the world.

You can walk into any stable that is cleaned three times daily, even into places that stable horses worth tens of thousands of dollars, you will find that all stables stink!  When you allow the Holy Spirit to examine your heart with the Word of God, you will come to understand that you to are like a stinky stable, unfit for the King of kings to be born and reside in.  However, born again Christians do have Jesus Christ living in them through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of God.

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation;  the old has gone, the new has come.”  Jesus comes to live within Christians to make them like Himself.  The sure sign and seal of the indwelling Savior is increasing Christ-likeness.  Receiving God’s Christmas gift, Jesus Christ as personal Savior and Lord, will give you new motives, new desires and Holy Spirit empowerment to overcome the sins that try to demand dominion in your life.

Have you discovered Christmas?