Today’s Devotional Was Written By A Giving and Attentive Young Woman: Tracy A. Dixon
Its Beginning to Look alot Like Xmas.....
Luke 2:10-14 (New Living Translation)
10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
For those of you who know me, you're shaking your head at the title right now, because I am the first to correct someone X'ing Christ out of Christmas. But as I began to pay attention to different posts on Facebook, tv shows, radio ads, stores, and even the greetings used by people, I realized that the world has been X'ing out the Christ in Christmas for awhile.
As the song says, "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, Toys in every store. ", Christmas has become all about the gifts under the tree, and not that gift that died on a tree. Even the art of gift giving has become watered down to gift cards. No more do people buy gifts that hold meaning and create memories. Kids think that Santa Claus is the man of the hour, the main event. Reindeer and elves have over shadowed wise men and Bethlehem.
We have so many clichés as Christians, but are we truly celebrating the meaning of Christmas. I'll be thirty next year, and I must say this year has been my greatest Christmas season thus far. For the first time ever, I put aside my Christmas list to bless others. Shane and I chose three single mothers with children and made it our personal goal to bless them beyond measure. It felt good to REALLY give back for once. Christ was born so that we could be born again, and for what. I believe it was for more than a ticket to heaven. I think that as Christ made selfless sacrifices for us, we are to do the same for others.
As we wrap the final presents, and prep the final touches for Christmas dinner, let us search our hearts and home for the true spirit of Christmas. One home at a time let us say: Its beginning to look a lot like CHRISTmas, God in every home. Let our inner light shine for all to see, and not just our outdoor lights on display. We can't control what the world does because we've allowed the world to control us, but God gave us DOMINION over this land and we should be the influencers, not the influenced. Merry CHRISTmas to all and HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment