It’s Christmas.
With full respect of other holidays celebrated this time of year, let me not water down the meaning of Christmas. It’s ok to celebrate each of our favorite, most meaningful holidays.
Christmas is the commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ.
So with Christmas now upon us, I ask one question:
Who do you say Jesus is?
Don’t mistake me for being callous nor quaint. I mean no disrespect. But the bottom line of Christmas lies in the answer to that question.
Who you say he is dictates how you will respond. It alters what you think… how you behave… how you will teach the children around you.
I kind of like the response of Linus, a child himself… who drops his infamous security blanket to share about the one in whom he finds far greater security…
“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not.’
For behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.’
That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”
That’s what it’s all about.
So I ask again… deeply… privately… profoundly… who do you say he is?
Merry Christmas, friends. Blessings to each of you. In a year of ups and downs, good things and bad, wrestling with both the trivial and the tough, I wish God’s best for each of you.
With great joy… but even greater peace…
Respectfully… always…
AR