Text: “From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing another” (John 1:15).
The season of Christmas for 2009 is now past. The past year leaves us with many memories. Some things we care to remember and other things we would like to forget. The Christmas decorations are coming down or have already been taken down. The beautiful wrapping paper has been torn and placed in the garbage can. Some bows have been saved because they are considered special, but most have now been discarded.
Many people have been hurt during the year because of the economy. A large number of people have people have lost their source of income and the housing situation has been disastrous for some. Those who were fortunate enough to keep working have seen their benefits lost or decreased.
God knows what we are going through. He knows how we feel, where we hurt, and the worry and stress brought upon us. He is a God of love and a God of mercy. He said He would not give us more than we can handle. He gives us one day at a time and stays with us all the time. God said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).
Christmas time is a joyous time and the joy should remain throughout the coming year. Presenting gifts and receiving gifts should be done with love. There are people who will shop and spend until they have found the perfect gift for that special person. Adults and children have a tendency to want more items than are necessary. Merchants advertise items that one just cannot live without.
I have nothing against giving and receiving gifts and I realize that merchants must sell if they are going to stay in business. The issue I have involves wants and needs. Adults and children are guilty of this. All the wants we have may not make us happy. We all have needs, but at times we become greedy and want more than we need.
Last week we talked about the wise men that saw the star in the sky and followed it to where Jesus was. They presented Him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Note that each person presented Jesus with just one gift not many gifts. These gifts were carried a long distance by the wise men and they were presented with love.
How many gifts do we give and receive at Christmas time? I would venture to say that many people received many gifts. I also know that many people received one gift and some received no gift. Those who received one gift were probably happier than or just as happy as the person who received multiple gifts. Those who received no material gift were probably most appreciative and understood the real meaning of Christmas.
Poem: “Give Me These Gifts”
I want no frankincense, myrrh and gold
Like the wise Men brought to the Child of old,
But this I crave with a great desire—
These gifts I ask with my soul on fire:
Peace of mind in this heart of mine,
Comrade-love as a light to shine
Like the golden gleam of an afterglow
Of sunset over a field of snow;
A woodfire, bright in the twilight gloam,
And the holy warmth of a loving home;
Friends who will take my reaching hand
Like the star of old in a distant land,
And guide my steps to a manger shrine
And the heart of a lowly Child, Divine!
------------Wm. L. Stidger
After Christmas gifts are opened, it is not uncommon to hear the words, “Is that all I get?” I have heard this from adults as well as children. Adults think they need all the latest gadgets, cell phones, computers, tools, while children believe they are entitled to all the toys they see advertised on television.
“Where are the rest of my gifts?” “I didn’t get everything I asked for.” “I know Santa Claus wouldn’t let me down.”
The days before Christmas are exciting days. Many television programs are geared to Christmas. Churches are rehearsing for pageants, programs, and special services. Decorations are being placed on the outside of the house as well as on the inside. Christmas music is being played and in many homes, special food is being prepared. Family get-togethers are in the planning stages.
During the Advent Season we were wishing people a “Merry Christmas.” Now that Christmas has passed, we are wishing people a “Happy New Year.”
Some people consider Christmas a depressing time of the year. Perhaps a loved one has been called home by the Lord. Maybe there is illness or maybe times are just really difficult. Loneliness pushes one into a depressed state leaving the door open for the devil to get his foot in and start the individual thinking about an easy way out. The road to self-destruction looks good during this time of depression.
This is the time one needs to look up and exercise the faith that God has given each of us. This is the time to be positive and count the blessings brought about by that first Christmas. This is the time to remember the love placed in the manger by God the Father.
What is the Christmas all about? Is it really about buying each other gifts? It is just a holiday whereby one does not have to go to work? Is it a time for the merchants to increase their business?
Is it a time of cooking and eating? Is it a time for family fellowship and get together? Is it a time for special church services? Is it just a time to decorate the interior and exterior of our house? Is it a time to remember and give to those who do not have? What is Christmas all about?
Christmas is a time to do all of these things, but Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This birth took place 2000 plus years ago, and without this birth mankind would be lost. The birth of Jesus has given each of us another opportunity to be redeemed by God the Father.
This birth has given us an opportunity to spend eternity with Jesus in His kingdom. This birth gives us guidance down the straight and narrow road of this earthly life. This birth determines our destiny. “Jesus is the reason for the Season” and Christmas Day is the time to remember and to celebrate the reason.
This past year has had its ups and downs, but our God is bigger than any of the things that have happened to us during the year. God has a reason for everything He does. In fact, the plans were laid out long before man even came upon the scene.
Since God created us, He know everything that has happened to us, everything that is happening at the present time, and everything that will happen to us in the future. It is up to us to trust and believe Him.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning” (John 1:1-2). Jesus is the Word, Jesus was with God, and Jesus is God. This is difficult for some people to understand. Jesus is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
We celebrate Christmas to honor and remember God who came into the world as a baby. He was fully human and He was truly God. When He came into the world, He was still God, but He lived as man. God came in human form so that man could better understand. He came as our Savior who was spoken of years before. He came as the Messiah who would offer man salvation and redemption.
Isaiah wrote, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder, and His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (9:6).
God created everything that is, including you and me. “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27). Since we were created in His image, we share many of His characteristics. We have the capability of expressing His image of love, patience, forgiveness, kindness, and faithfulness.
We know we are priceless because God created us and He didn’t create anything that was worthless. We have a positive attitude just as He has. We are not to be primarily concerned about material things, possessions, achievements, or physical appearance. Since we share His characteristics, God will see that these things are taken care of.
Jesus is the light that shines on us and guides in our daily walk down the straight and narrow road of righteousness. We have the right to become His children. We receive Him, we believe Him, and we accept Him as our own personal Lord and Savior. This is open to all of His children, but unfortunately not all people live in the Light. Some prefer to live in the darkness.
Many years ago, in Bethlehem, in a dark dreary smelly stable, a young virgin impregnated by the Holy Spirit brought forth a baby, wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in the feeding trough of the stable animals. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” – which means, “God with us” (Matthew 1:22, 23).
When the Lord spoke to Joseph in a dream, He said, “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). The name Jesus is Greek which means “the Lord saves”.
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
Before God sent His Son into the world in human form, people could only know God partially. After Jesus came into the world in human form, people could see Him and in seeing Him they could see God and thereby understand God more fully.
When man committed the original sin of disobedience, man a void was created between God and man. This did not mean God disliked man. God does not like everything man does, but He still loves him. God’s plan was to bring man back into a right relationship with Him. That plan was brought about by the baby born in Bethlehem on that first Christmas night.
Conclusion:
We wish people “Merry Christmas” and they say, “I didn’t get what I wanted”. We say “Happy New Year” and some people ask, “What is there to be happy about?”
When people respond in this manner, it indicates to me that they do not understand the real Christmas meaning: “Jesus is the reason for the season”.
They do not realize that the greatest gift possible to receive is the gift of knowing Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. This is the expression of the love God has for His children.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:16, 17).
Poem: “Just One Request”
“Dear Master for this coming year
Just one request I bring:
I do not pray for happiness,
Or any earthly thing—
I do not ask to understand
The way Thou leadest me,
But this I ask: Teach me to do
The thing that pleaseth Thee.
I want to know Thy guiding voice,
To walk with Thee each day.
Dear Master make me swift to hear
And ready to obey.
And thus the year I now begin
A happy year will be—
If I am seeking just to do
The thing that pleaseth Thee.
----------------Selected
Each of us is facing a New Year, but we are not facing it alone.
Poem: “A Prosperous New Year!”
The New Year lies before us,
A spotless, shining thing,
Bright as the promises of God,
Fresh as the breath of spring.
A year to fill with lovely thoughts,
And kindly, helpful deeds,
Losing all consciousness of self,
In prayer for others’ needs.
----------------Sybil Leonard Armes
“From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing another” (John 1:15).
Our greatest blessing is what Christmas is all about. God blessed us with His gift of love when He sent His son into the world.
God’s precious gift is ready for you. Will you receive Him and have a “Happy New Year”?
Amen.
