Reading: Luke 2:1-20
"Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift" (2 Cor 9:15)
The Church calendar has fixed December 25 as the Christmas Day. There is so much of dispute over its accuracy, but it does not matter. The fact remains that the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity entered this world in flesh and blood on the first Christmas Day. History is His Story! He only has divided history as B.C. and A.D.
Remembering the birth of Christ in a special way on a particular day of the year has nothing unscriptural about it. "He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it" (Rom 14:6). One has total freedom to celebrate or not to celebrate Christmas. "Let us not judge one another anymore" on such matters (Rom 14:13).
But the way we celebrate Christmas is important. In several so-called Christian countries and communities, it has become a day of drunkenness and revelries, and it brings dishonour to the Babe of Bethlehem. Our celebration may include new dresses and good food but we must remember that "the Kingdom of God is not food and drink, but joy in the Holy Spirit" (Rom 14:17).
On the first Christmas Day the shepherds "made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child" (Lk 2:17). Make the Christmas season a time of aggressive evangelism! Instead of visiting Christian homes with carol singing, go to slums, villages and street corners to proclaim the message to non-Christians! Further, the shepherds were "glorifying and praising God" (Lk 2:20). Let Christmas Season be a time of rich worship and lavish praise for "God's unspeakable gift." How deplorable it would have been for us if Christ had not come!
When we remember Christ's First Coming let's get ready for His Second Coming by reaching people who have not yet heard about His First Coming even after about 2000 years. Let every tribe and tongue and people group sing, "Glory to God in the Highest!" (Rev 7:9; Lk 2:14). Have you spoken to atleast one non-Christian this year about Christ? Decide that you would do all that's possible in the coming year to share the love of God with those who have never heard about the first Christmas!
Oh, come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant;
Oh, come ye! oh, come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold Him, born the King of angels;
Oh, come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!
(Author unknown, composed in the 18th Century in Latin)
R. Stanley
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