What is the Reason for this Christmas Season?
Sky of Jerusalem at 7BC-11-12 20:00 (local) heading south The star of Bethlehem
We are fast approaching Christmas. There is a lot of hustle and bustle as people are preparing for Christmas. For many, the season has nothing to do with the birth of our Lord but is a time to spend with family and exchange gifts. There are many that slip under the radar during this season that have no family or are alone. It is a very difficult time and many feel discouraged and really wish this season would hurry up and end. I have felt discouraged during this season but for a very different reason.
The slogan for this time of year is “Jesus is the reason for the Season.” This is only partly true. Please hear me out.
As a Christian, I am acutely aware of what this time of year represents. It is the time man has set aside to celebrate the birth of Christ. While the time of year man chose is incorrect and there is no instance in the scripture where His birth was acknowledged other than when He came into the world, we Christians understand the utter significance of this occasion. It is fulfillment of prophecy of a Messiah that will come and secure salvation for the lost.
I don’t think I am alone in feeling discouragement this time of year. Because I am acutely aware of the significance of His birth, I am acutely aware of my loved ones that do not know Him. As I walk around seeing people go about their day preparing for the holidays, I am acutely aware that the center of their holiday is not Christ but family and gift giving. They may sing Christmas carols naming Christ but it is nothing more than a holiday song to be sung this time of year.
As Christians, we have placed our faith in Him whose birth we will celebrate in a couple of weeks. The Word made flesh came and dwelt among His lost creation so that He may save lost sinners who would certainly perish unless He intervened.
This is the time of year when I am more intensely aware of the lost of this world and I am saddened. I am discouraged when Christians are upset that non-Christians do not pay honor or even lip service to the event of the Savior’s birth some 2,000 years ago. It is for those that He came and died for so that they too may be saved if they would place their faith in Him. Faith comes through hearing and if we distance ourselves from those that need to hear, we do not honor our Lord’s birth. This time of year is not a time that I celebrate His birth but mostly reflect on the reason He came.
As Christians, we have it all – salvation. What more can a man ask for than eternity in the presence of our Lord for ever and ever. Because of this realization, I found it petty and childish to campaign against retailers for refusing to say “Merry Christmas.” Are not these part of the lost and the “reason for the season?” The “reason for the season” is not really His birth but the reason for His birth.
I have been neglectful in answering responses to my blog and I have been neglectful in telling my fellow bloggers how much their blogs have blessed me. I read blogs and move on to the next without a word that I even visited them. I know that those that have come here and left me encouraging messages without me acknowledging them will understand — I know that because of who they are. Thank you.
My hope and prayer is that Christians that read this message will reflect upon that which they possess – eternal life. My bigger hope and prayer is that anyone who does not know Christ will seek Him.
The real reason for the season is the lost. He was born to save the lost. There would be no reason for His birth if it were not for the lost that needed salvation.
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“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10)
How unfortunate it is that there are those who celebrate His birth, yet they remain lost. They rejoice over the Baby in the manger of Bethlehem, yet they fail to honor the Man Who went to the Cross to pay the price for their sin.
Exactly!!!! It was His death on the cross and His resurrection that secured our redemption. That’s what people are missing
Tishrei,
Right on!!!….. And — what joy there is in the hearts of all who realize and believe this….. And then, on the other side of the coin, there is the vehement anger and despising coming from unbelievers, who “know about” the Christ, but despise the very idea of Him dying for their sins….. They refuse to acknowledge that their sins deserve God’s judgment….. It’s like Loren said in his post for today on “How Much Time Is Enough?”…..
The LORD God Almighty humbled Himself so much in a holy and pure love for each and every one of us — and yet, people in their pride “look the other way” at the mere mention of our sinful natures and need for a Savior…..
There is not only an acute need to look at the reason for the Christmas season, but also Good Friday, Easter, and the Ascension — and people will look questioningly, “What’s that? What’s ascension?”….. Talk about “knowing” and yet not knowing.
Christ’s witnesses need to get down to the nitty-gritty of what Christ’s coming means to this world.
Margaret
Wow Girl you go with the truth!!! Now since I am at a comfortable place over yonder… I can read, gleam and take joy in others posts.
I love the bottom line “The real reason for the season is the lost. He was born to save the lost. There would be no reason for His birth if it were not for the lost that needed salvation.”
I thank God for you and your talent of being able to be articulate with a topic.
( This is something myself, that I want to perfect.)
In Him
Liz
Wow Girl you go with the truth!!! Now since I am at a comfortable place over yonder… I can read, gleam and take joy in others posts.
I love the bottom line “The real reason for the season is the lost. He was born to save the lost. There would be no reason for His birth if it were not for the lost that needed salvation.”
I thank God for you and your talent of being able to be articulate with a topic.
( This is something myself, that I want to perfect.)
In Him
Liz
Well, when you perfect it, teach me
I think you are doing great. This is what I think — how I approach things works for some but not others. How you approach things works for some but not others. That’s why we are all used by God in different areas reaching different people. We are members of one body with different functions.
You’re doing great and what I’ve read so far has been a blessing to me.
thanks you are so sweet.