Remember Christ This Christmas

During the hustle and bustle of Christmas time, it’s easy to become inundated with the numerous cultural trappings of this over-commercialized holiday. Most Christians spend tremendous time and energy honoring their family and friends during this season of the year, yet we exert meager effort to honor the incarnate Christ whose earthly arrival we’re supposedly celebrating. With Christmas trees, lights and decorations galore invading our eyes at every turn of the head, the symbolism behind them easily fades from our conscious thoughts.

Remembering Christ this Christmas, let the next festive lights you see remind you to praise God for sending the Light of the World to shed light on our darkened souls. May every angelic image wisp you away to lonely pasture land where the multitude of heavenly hosts glorified God, proclaiming the coming of Christ the Messiah to the lowly shepherds. Every time you gaze upon a gift, think not only of the magi’s gifts to the Christ child, but of the greatest gift, Christ the incarnate Deity. And, may the piles of presents remind you that every good and perfect gift comes from above.

Make your Christmas tree’s significance more than ornaments, decorations and presents. Fall on your knees in gratitude to God that the baby born in the manger became a man who suffered and died on a tree in your place. Each savory red and white striped candy cane should recall the blood of Christ shed for the forgiveness of your sins and the righteous white garments in which he clothes you. And finally, allow the sound of the Salvation Army trumpeter excite your soul, knowing that one day a trumpet will sound for all to hear. The One called Faithful and True, whom only a few saw when he was born in a little town called Bethlehem, will return victoriously for all to see. Riding a white horse as King of kings and Lord of lords, he will come to make all things new!