How To Keep Christmas From Becoming A Mess

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HOW TO KEEP CHRISTMAS FROM BECOMING A MESS

Isaiah 9:6

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

With all of the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, I thought it would be good to take a moment to help us focus on ways to keep Christ in Christmas.

Today, I am going to be presenting 4 main points under the topic of "How To Keep Christmas From Becoming A Mess". These steps will help you keep your sanity and focus during what can be the most stressful time of the year.

Of course, as a man speaking to you today, I recognize one very important thing about Christmas, and who much of the stress really falls on, and the following little story brings it out in a great way:

ILLUSTRATION: A DIFFERENT VIEW

It was just a few days before Christmas. Two men who were next-door neighbors decided to go sailing while their wives went Christmas shopping. While the men were out in their sailboat, a storm arose. The sea became very angry and the men had great difficulty keeping the boat under control. As they maneuvered their way toward land, they hit a sandbar and the boat grounded. Both men jumped overboard and began to push and shove with all their strength, trying to get the boat into deeper water. With his feet almost knee-deep in mud, and the waves bouncing him against the side of the boat, and his hair blowing wildly in the wind, one of the men said with a knowing grin, “It sure beats Christmas shopping, doesn’t it?”

The very first thing I think it is important for us to do today is:

I. REMEMBER THE REASON

One of the very first questions that come out of the mouths of our children is “why”?

Questions of “why do I have to share” to “why do I have to eat my vegetables”, to “why is the grass green”, and “why do I have to say I’m sorry”, and the list could go on and on of so many questions that begin with that simple three letter word of “why” –

We are born with the desire to know the reason behind what we are doing, and celebrating Christmas ought to be no different for us.

It’s interesting to see and hear some of the reasons people offer when they tell others “what Christmas is all about” –

Some of their explanations are good, but hardly the primary reason:

1. It’s a time when family gets together to share good times and memories

2. It’s a time when we take the time to let each other know just how much we love them.

3. It’s a time when we share good food and fun, and count our blessings.

4. It’s a time when we are able to get a few days off from work for some well-deserved R&R.

The list could go on and on, but it doesn’t take long before you realize that certain people just don’t get it.

That is my first sub-point today of the main reason being to celebrate:

A. The Birth of Christ

Debates exist about the purpose of the Christmas tree, the actual date of the birth of Christ, and more, however, this is not about all the practices of Christmas, but is more about the CHRIST of Christmas, and the wonderful fact that we get a day, and as a matter of fact, about a whole month where the attention of the world focuses on the birth of the Christ child.

Christmas is about the birth of Jesus Christ. It is to celebrate the birth of the most profound life that has ever been born in this world. Jesus Christ was conceived and born like no other child ever had been before, and since... the Virgin Birth. Matthew 1:23 - "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us."

For those who don’t believe in the Bible as the inerrant Word of God, probably just "left the building" so to speak. However, for those who realize there is a God bigger and greater than we are, who created the world and all that is within it, also know that if God can do all of that, then surely He can do the impossible. If God can’t do the impossible, then is he really God? I submit to you that He is and that Christmas is about the celebration of the great miracle of the Virgin Birth of Jesus Christ.

A few years ago, a statement came out saying that “Jesus Is The Reason For The Season”, and while it may seem somewhat trite or simple, and possibly even overused, I think it is a great statement to share with others as you go about your daily life.