Just What Is the Reason For The Season
14/12/13 10:38 Filed in: Seasonal | Inspirational
Yes, it is Christmastime once again. Carols, lights, excitement, the smell of cinnamon in nearly every store, and the aroma of cookies baking in the oven. As we look around at all the things offered at Christmastime, there is only one thing that is missing — Yeshua. Let’s face it, Yeshua is no longer the reason for the season in the hearts and minds of most people.
For years I have been enjoying Christmas time less and less. Every year I see people getting farther and farther away from the simple, but profound message of Christmas.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. —Luke 2:10-17
When I was a little boy I looked forward to Christmas with great eagerness, just like any other child. The driving force as a child was all the creamy goodness that was going to be coming to me. Toys, goodies, money…all for ME! But as I got older, and understood more of the “real” Christmas story, the more I understood the collective error of childhood that permeates the Christmas season today.
The apostle Paul stated it quite nicely:
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. —1 Corinthians 13:11
Today I look around me and see far too man children and not enough spiritual adults. The childish notion of the season being all for me or, just as bad, all for someone else, is unmistakably present. Yet Scripture clearly shows us the way. We do not see the shepherds giving one another presents or trying to decide what to give the boss to make the best impression. Neither do we see the Wise men handing out gifts to themselves or to passersby on their journey to see the babe of the star. What we do see is the shepherds leaving their jobs and going in haste to see Yeshua. After they had seen him, they left and gave testimony of what they had seen, praising and glorifying God. And those wise men…when they arrived, they fell down and worshipped Yeshua, and they gave HIM gifts.
Christmas, when celebrated correctly, is not a time to receive gifts from men, nor to give gifts to men. Christmas is a time to call to mind the gift God has given to us (look up John 3:16 now). It is time for us to give gifts to Yeshua. And what do you give a Messiah who has everything? There is really only one thing he wants; your heart. He wants to hear your testimony of him. He wants to receive your worship and the sacrifice of praise. He wants you to be joyful in him. But what we find instead is that people no longer say, “Merry Christmas,” because that offends other people. We see fewer and fewer manger scenes because those scenes offend other people. We hear few and fewer songs about the Savior because those songs offend other people. It seems as though we do not care how offended Yeshua is because of our refusal to give testimony the way those simple shepherds did.
I challenge you to be a spiritual adult, to put away childish things, and to give testimony of the Christ Child. Hasten to glorify him and to praise God. Give him the gifts of praise and worship. If you feel you absolutely MUST give something to friends and family, how about these year-round favorites:
✦The love of Christ
✦The fellowship of the Holy Spirit
✦ Compassion and understanding
✦Prayer
The season can be returned to its rightful owner. With your help and participation we can once again make Yeshua the reason for the season.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. —Luke 2:10-17
When I was a little boy I looked forward to Christmas with great eagerness, just like any other child. The driving force as a child was all the creamy goodness that was going to be coming to me. Toys, goodies, money…all for ME! But as I got older, and understood more of the “real” Christmas story, the more I understood the collective error of childhood that permeates the Christmas season today.
The apostle Paul stated it quite nicely:
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. —1 Corinthians 13:11
Today I look around me and see far too man children and not enough spiritual adults. The childish notion of the season being all for me or, just as bad, all for someone else, is unmistakably present. Yet Scripture clearly shows us the way. We do not see the shepherds giving one another presents or trying to decide what to give the boss to make the best impression. Neither do we see the Wise men handing out gifts to themselves or to passersby on their journey to see the babe of the star. What we do see is the shepherds leaving their jobs and going in haste to see Yeshua. After they had seen him, they left and gave testimony of what they had seen, praising and glorifying God. And those wise men…when they arrived, they fell down and worshipped Yeshua, and they gave HIM gifts.
Christmas, when celebrated correctly, is not a time to receive gifts from men, nor to give gifts to men. Christmas is a time to call to mind the gift God has given to us (look up John 3:16 now). It is time for us to give gifts to Yeshua. And what do you give a Messiah who has everything? There is really only one thing he wants; your heart. He wants to hear your testimony of him. He wants to receive your worship and the sacrifice of praise. He wants you to be joyful in him. But what we find instead is that people no longer say, “Merry Christmas,” because that offends other people. We see fewer and fewer manger scenes because those scenes offend other people. We hear few and fewer songs about the Savior because those songs offend other people. It seems as though we do not care how offended Yeshua is because of our refusal to give testimony the way those simple shepherds did.
I challenge you to be a spiritual adult, to put away childish things, and to give testimony of the Christ Child. Hasten to glorify him and to praise God. Give him the gifts of praise and worship. If you feel you absolutely MUST give something to friends and family, how about these year-round favorites:
✦The love of Christ
✦The fellowship of the Holy Spirit
✦ Compassion and understanding
✦Prayer
The season can be returned to its rightful owner. With your help and participation we can once again make Yeshua the reason for the season.
