Do You Believe What They’re Saying About Christmas?

     Lots of ‘Mas ~ We joke about our times. We say that our whole world is leaving the “Christ” out of “Christmas.” The truth of the matter is that many people would never really be able to tell the difference between “Exmas” and “Christmas.” Just enter some stores that are pushing seasonal fare--do you think you will even find anything that reminds you of the events of Bethlehem 2000 years ago? Red ribbons, holly, colorful wrapping paper, fruit cake, sleigh bells, reindeer, a snowflake scene for mounting in your yard, candy canes, chocolate done up like Santy Claus--but no Baby Jesus! Of course, you will hear Christmas music in these same stores, don’t you know! But think a minute. What does “Frosty the Snowman” or “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree” or “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” have to do with God’s gift to mankind in Jesus Christ?

     Lots of Teaching and Advice ~ Jeremiah gives us God’s Word about missing what God is doing. The person who looks to his own ways in dealing with life and relies only on the human perspective of things, misses God. When a person is “cursed,” he is alienated from God’s blessing. The heart that looks only on the human self, has departed from God. We live in a time and culture that advises us to do exactly that--leave God behind or in some corner, and just do this Christmas buying thing and lay a present or two on some family members or maybe a friend or two. We even hear the advice, “You deserve it. Do it for yourself. Buy! Buy! Buy!” Eliminate God’s promised Messiah from the season. But doing so only brings separation from God, “departing from the Lord,” in Jeremiah’s words.

     Everybody Is Doing It ~ It often seems like the world is going in an odd direction and we need to be part of the crowd. We may identify a person that we think is right on target, a good leader for the times, somebody we can “copy” for the Christmas season. That person may be a very good person and may have good, socially-accepted ideas, but that person may have departed from God, even though that person’s yard is full of seasonal decorations, but no Christ. How can you know about following a Christmas leader? Look at Jesus in Matthew 23:8. He basically says, “Don’t choose a leader because you are all in the same boat. Follow Me because I am your Leader.” The crowd may want to lead us away from Christ this season, but the Holy Spirit wants to lead us to the Savior Himself.

     What Is Right ~ Sometimes the present seems so important and being part of the group or neighborhood seems so now! There are many “sleighs” to ride on during this Christmas season. Maybe we want to take the sleigh of a celebration activity for Christmas. Maybe we want a different sleigh to take us on a giving activity for some charity this season. Maybe we want to sit in a corner and abstain from any so-called Christmas activity. Not good! We need to focus on God’s Word, that which is written. The Bible will put things in perspective and give us the direction we need for putting Jesus into our Christmas plans.

     Biblical Basics ~ So, what should our focus be in the Christmas season? The same focus that we should have all the time! Remember Luke 10:27? Jesus was asked about priorities. Here’s Jesus’ answer: “So he answered and said, ‘“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,” and “your neighbor as yourself.”’” When it comes to human activities, whether they are Christmas and Christmas activities or not, Jesus’ words might be a good focus, don’t you think? If our Christmas celebration honors God and helps us love God and people, that might be a pretty good Christmas. Maybe that’s one way of getting “Christ” back into Christmas.

     Merry Christmas! ~ Do you think we can find what is in the stable this year? Check out Luke 2:12. May the Lord Jesus help each of us keep our focus on our Heavenly Father’s graciousness in sending Jesus to us to die for our sins.

     Tonight I went to the Christmas party that our Battalion threw for a local orphanage. 75 small, Korean children piled out of buses excited to see what was in store for them.  They had made Christmas lists for Santa, and the number one thing they wanted was cookies. 

     I stood in front of the children with a Korean helper and called their names out one by one to give out presents.  Each child ran to the front and bowed humbly to say thank you as Santa gave them their gift. 

     A little 10 year old boy stood beside me waiting--not very patiently--for his gift to come.  He wore shoes that were 2 times his size, and clothes hat hung over his tiny frame.  Each gift I grabbed he would say, "What your name?" and I would read the name off, "Kim Jang-Sung....Lee Hae Su". 

     Everyone seemed to be getting a gift and my little friend was getting very sad, he would hold on to my hand and look down at all the gifts and repeat his name to me over and over.  He wanted to make sure that I knew his name so I could find his present.  Over and over he repeated his name.  Finally his turn came and he squealed with joy and excitement.  He ran to the back of the room and opened his present in the corner...it was a book-bag with a toothbrush, socks and a hat inside.  He loved it, he ran up to show me what Santa had brought him.

     I looked at him, a child, a 10-year-old child. No mom or dad to hand him his gift from Santa.  He didn't get a great bike or a new x-box.  He got a cheap back-pack, a toothbrush, socks and a hat.  In his eyes, tonight, he was a rich boy.  I helped him adjust his book bag and we went to the food table.  Most of the food was already gone, not because the children had eaten it, but because they had shoved most f the cookies, pizza, chips, etc.  into their pockets, bags or anything they could carry the food in.

     I helped my little friend pack his bag with leftover cookies and pizza (as much as he could fit in his book bag).  After saying goodbye, I walked outside...everywhere I looked, it was decorated with lights.  The snow had just started falling again, and found myself overwhelmed with the sense of humility, sadness, joy and peace.

     You see, at that moment I could not remember my little friends name.  He was so concerned that I would not know his name, and he would miss his present. It didn't matter, because in that moment Jesus reminded me, "I know his name..".  Jesus knows his name as knows each of ours, and he delivered his present personally 2000 years ago.  The most amazing Christmas gift was the first gift.  The Birth of Grace, the Birth of Jesus Christ, the world’s salvation.  We never have to worry that our name will be lost in the crowd, because Jesus knows each one of us personally and delivered each of our gifts himself, to ensure nothing went wrong.

     I pray that this Christmas, while we sit with our families, our loved ones, eating turkey, cookies, cornbread, that we will remember that all around the world there are children without families, who are excited to get a toothbrush for Christmas.  And most importantly, that Christmas is the ultimate gift to us all, Our Savior was born to save the world.  Immanuel, God is with Us!  The Bright Morning Star, Prince of Peace, Lord of Lords, Redeemer, Savior, Friend. I have a Maker… He calls me His own… He’ll never leave me…

     HE KNOWS MY NAME.

    GOD BLESS AND MERRY CHRISTMAS.

    JULIA

     What is impossible for man, is possible for God. Trust in the Lord.

     Julia Kaye Janasky, December, 2005