Keeping Christ in CHRISTmas Day #20 CHRISTmas or MEmas

Keeping Christ in CHRISTmas – Day #20 - CHRISTmas or MEmas (Luke 1:26-38)

CHRISTmas or MEmas (Luke 1:26-38)

Luke 1:26–38, “And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.”

To celebrate Christmas the way it is supposed to be, or used to be, it must be all about Jesus. Its no shock to us that Christmas is the biggest commercial holiday in the United States, responsible for hundreds of billions of dollars spent on decorations, food, and of course, the “perfect” gifts for loved ones. Many people begin their Christmas shopping even before Thanksgiving and take full advantage of retailers’ Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. The weeks leading up to Christmas Day are supposed to be filled with peace and happiness, but too often we experience a holiday of worry and stress. Amongst the excitement and flurry of the season, we can easily become so frazzled that we lose sight of what it is all about. E.B. White said, “To perceive Christmas through its wrappings becomes more difficult with every year.” If we want to avoid the stress associated with the material concerns of the Christmas season, we must turn our focus upward to the One whose birth we celebrate. It’s easy to get self-centered rather than Christ-centered.

Isaiah 9:6, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” The truth of this season is that Jesus came to be Prince of Peace for all who believe. The Scriptures teach three promises of peace made available through Christ.

Peace from God: Romans 1:7, “To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Peace with God: Romans 5:1, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Peace of God: Philippians 4:7, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” The prescription for peace is found in Philippians 4:7. When we take our requests to God while thanking Him for all that He has done for us, we will have His perfect peace. The key to great peace is not found in our resources or in our circumstances, but on our knees. Perhaps the most remembered message of Christmas was spoken by the angels in Luke 2:14, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” While Christmas should be a time of peace, it is often the opposite for many. Worry, family problems, and financial stress can rob us of the peace God desires for His children to enjoy. All the worry in the world will never change things for the better. Until we seek God’s face in prayer, we will never know His genuine peace. When you consider that God has given us Christ while we were sinners, then you will see just what a treasure Christ is and how rich you are already. Christ is the one who was rich and became poor for us, “though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (II Corinthians 8:9). Now, through Christ’s death, we are sons and daughters of God and rightful heirs with Christ of His inheritance. So, consider what you deserve (death and hell), and consider what you have received (eternal salvation). You are rich in Christ! Nothing in this world compares!

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