As any good man would do, I was walking around in some different stores doing my last-minute shopping today. Typical guy… I know. I found myself getting overly annoyed with Christmas as I watched countless others running around trying to find that “perfect” gift for their loved ones. (Now hear me out, I am not putting down getting others gifts to display your love for them.)
Our society, secular and nonsecular communities, have this mindset that we MUST give out gifts of some kind. It’s rude or inconsiderate if you don’t. I always felt guilty when I didn’t get anyone a gift.
Recently I asked some people around the stores what they most enjoy about Christmas, most of them expressed getting gifts. Really? THAT is what you most enjoy? Yes, of course, you get the few that express the company of family and friends. However, How would you react if you came to the house on Christmas day and you heard that you were to receive no gifts?
The mindset we should really have is purely on Christ. It’s bothered me for a while that we have put “presents” above the “presence” of Christ. Christ came to this earth. Now, He didn’t just come down in this massive thrown and proclaimed His deity. (As He very well could have done.) He came down in a dirty manger. This was only the beginning of the ultimate display of divine love for us.
“… I have loved you with an everlasting love…”
~Jeremiah 31:3~
God loves us so incredibly much that He sent His only son into this filthy sin infested earth to cleanse us of our sins. Wow! I don’t know about you, but THAT blows my mind.
Romans 8:31-39
I’ve honestly not been the biggest fan of Christmas until this year because of the industrialized season. A dear friend of mine expressed that it’s the greatest time of year, because without Christmas there would be nothing to be thankful for! They couldn’t be more true. After they said that I decided to really get into the meaning of Christmas. Not the presents but the presence of Christ. The very fact that we have a Savior that willingly came to this earth and died for our sins. Again…. WOW!
Maybe you are the few that TRULY focus on the meaning of Christmas. That’s amazing and I dearly want to encourage you to continue in such awe for our Savior. However, maybe you are one that tends to get caught up in the industrialized Christmas. Then I too want to encourage you towards reading what scripture says about the ultimately divine display of affection that God had unto us. Dive into the Word and read about this love. Read about the TRUE gift this Christmas.
Matthew 1:18-25.
Spiritual Followings 