"So This is Christmas"

Christmas is a time of peace, hope, giving and love, at least it should be. During the Christmas season there is a kind of peace but it is more of a cease fire, there is a kind of hope but it is a “hope so” kind of hope, there is giving but often it is done begrudgingly based on what was given to us, if anything ,last year. It is a time of love and good feelings toward all at least at the Christmas party or when people are watching. Christmas has had an impact on our society outwardly more so than inwardly. We sing the songs, talk of peace and joy, give the gifts but few really deep down experience true lasting peace or the joy of selfless giving. That’s because our society, as much as they like the economics of Christmas, despise the Christ of Christmas. The message of Christ is one of peace, hope, joy, love, forgiveness but it is not wrapped up in what we do but in what Jesus Christ did on the cross 2000 years ago. “The good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people” , means He came to this earth to die on the cross in our place, not to condemn us. He came to bring Joy, peace, hope through the forgiveness of our sins. He says to us “all those who will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. He came to bring us back to God. Jesus is truly the reason for the season. The peace and joy of Christmas is found in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We need to keep him in the pre-eminent place. We may have lost the battle for doing this in the malls, schools and street corners but he can be and needs to be pre-eminent in the most important place in this world, our hearts. If He is the world will take notice that we have been with Jesus. That’s what lost people really need to see.; people who have been changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.