Weekend Thought: Keep Christ in your Christmas

We live in a world that puts possessions and self-indulgence above everything else.

People don’t often stop to think of the real meaning. We live in a materialistic society.

Christmas has become so commercialised that we forget what we are remembering.

Scrooge was only interested in what he had and what he could get.

He completely missed the true meaning.

A few years ago we had a poster on the wall of our church hall which listed the things that we think about at Christmas time. Many of these things were paired together.

There was reindeer and sleigh, sage and onion, Alker and Seltzer, holly and ivy, Queen and speech, mistletoe and wine, tree and lights, church and bells, ice and snow as well as wrapping paper and cellotape.

These are all things that we would associate with Christmas.

But the thing that was important about this poster was the bottom line which simply read, ‘Jesus and Christmas’.

So many people are content to leave Jesus out of their Christmas.

We are easily led to think about Christmas trees, cake, parties, cards, holidays and presents.

Yet, the most important fact which is often forgotten is that this is the birthday of Jesus. We are celebrating a birthday – the birthday of God’s own Son.

Jesus came among us and we have seen his glory of the One and only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Jesus is the source of our joy.

He is the light that shines in the darkness.

He is the source of those feelings of love and care, of encouragement and healing – of forgiveness and peace – of contentment and rest.

Do not leave the word Christ out of your Christmas.