Thanksgiving 2023 is history and beautiful Christmas color has appeared on Main Street USA. Neighborhoods shine and glisten with lights, pretend snow and reindeer.
The Christian celebration of Christmas is founded on Jesus—not trees, decorations, food, and gifts. The Bible makes no mention of Christmas or Christmas trees, so we recognize that Christmas, as we celebrate it, isn’t based on speci. c Biblical instruction.
However, humankind has a built-in need to commemorate important events. Throughout Scripture, God’s people have built monuments—visible reminders of life-changing experiences.
Celebrating Jesus’ birth on December 25, while knowing it’s not the actual date, recognizes the signi. cance of Jesus' virgin
birth and sinless life, making eternal life with our Heavenly Father possible.
As Christ-followers, our attention is to be centered on Jesus throughout the year, not only at Christmas. When our intent is to honor Jesus, we won’t be distracted from gratitude for God’s great gift of His Son by festive and fun traditions, including Christmas trees, gifts and food, In the same way that wedding rings represent lifelong commitment, the star atop a Christmas tree represents God’s promise to give the Savior, the Light of the world. It reminds us of the great star that led wise men to Bethlehem to honor the earthborn King of all creation.
Bright Christmas lights represent Jesus, the eternal Light of hope shining on our sin-darkened world. Christmas gifts remind us of the greatest gift ever given – everlasting life through the blood of Jesus Christ.
Candy canes represent the shepherd’s crook of Jesus, the good Shepherd, who tenderly calls every person to come to Him. The red and white stripes represent Christ’s purity and His cleansing blood.
Red and green are traditional Christmas colors. Red symbolizes the blood of Jesus. Green represents nature and our earthly life. The combination symbolizes the Holy Spirit’s union with our earthly lives, referred to by Jesus when He prayed: “Come Thy Kingdom! Be done Thy will, on earth as it is in heaven!”
Sometimes Christians criticize December 25 celebrations as “pagan”. But the greater problem may be that, like the unsaved world, believers have become so focused on gifts and food that we forget to invite Jesus to His own birthday celebration! This year, rather than arguing about trees, lights, Santa or Yuletide logs, let’s announce why Jesus came! Angels sang, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace among men with whom He is pleased.” Christmas becomes eternally
signi. cant as we proclaim the true peace of salvation through
Jesus Christ. God is not angrily watching every move we make, ready to condemn anyone who sins. Indeed, He loves every person so intensely that He personally paid for all sin by becoming one of us. John 3:17: “God did not send His son into the world in order to condemn the world, but so that the world might . nd
salvation and be made safe and sound through Him.” St. Francis of Assisi humbly expressed his desire to make the love of God visible in his life: “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood, as to understand; or to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying to ourselves that we are born to eternal life.”
Your year-end . nancial gift to In. nite Grace Ministries re- duces your tax liability while providing hope and healing to many. Call 580-774-2884 or mail your tax-deductible donation to PO Box 466, Weatherford, OK 73096; postmarked by December 31.
