Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Putting things in perpective...

As we're all undoubtedly getting our Christmas presents and decorations in order, I thought this might be an appropriate time to share this. I have always been perplexed at how so many people can participate in celebrating Christmas, and still deny the call of Jesus to salvation. The images, songs, and "holiday spirit" all promote peace and goodwill toward your fellow man, which sounds a lot like the message of Christ.

I have come to the understanding that it's not the fact that they don't see the signs all around them, it's the fact that they don't put it into the right context. When we, as Christians, celebrate the Christmas season, we recognize the birth of God's only son, the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ.

BUT

Everyone else just sees a cute story about a lowly child being born with shepherds, sheep, and strangers. Strangers who brought gifts to the new born kid, so that's why we give gifts. They completely miss the amazing grace that is illustrated in the nativity narrative...

Deity put on a Diaper!

The awesome, magnificent God of Wonders, purposefully chose to limit Himself to the body of a man, his own creation. We as Follower of Christ see this plain as day, but not because we see it as an isolated incident. We see this as the beginning of the greatest story ever told.

THAT'S WHY PEOPLE DON'T GET IT!

They only see Christmas as an isolated incident. We must strive, during this season especially, to continue to point to the rest of Jesus life, ministry, death, and Resurrection as the setting to truly understand the Christmas story.

"Christmas is the advent of God's Grace
culminating in the celebration of Easter,
the advent of God's Mercy"

- Just a thought.

2 comments:

Crystal said...

I really enjoyed reading this, Bill. Mark and I would like to tie the Christmas and Easter seasons together for Aidan when he gets old enough to understand -- mainly because neither of these occasions would have been sufficient for our salvation without the other. Christ's birth would not have really mattered without his death and resurrection. For us, Christmas is about recognizing the total sacrifice Jesus made for us -- his birth, his life, his death, his resurrection. Thanks for "confirming" we're on the right track.

Bill said...

No Problemo mi amigos! I just appreciate that someone's reading them. I can never tell. The only way I know is when people post comments. But, I'm glad that I could be of assistance.