It should be a MERRY Christmas – Thursday, 14 December

When we think about what we’re actually celebrating at this time of the year, it should fill us will great joy and peace, and thanksgiving – we’re celebrating so much more than what the majority of people around the world realize. For many people, this time of the year brings stress, anxiety and it isn’t a pleasant season at all. But when you focus on the real “Reason for the season” it will result in a merry Christmas!

“An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord was shining around them. The shepherds were very afraid. The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid. I have some very good news for you–news that will make everyone happy. Today your Savior was born in David’s town. He is the Messiah, the Lord.”
Luke 2:9-11 ERV

The Christmas message (the gospel) is one which will produce great joy and make you happy! You cannot be miserable or depressed when you realize why Jesus came and what He accomplished for you in His coming. If you’re not experiencing great joy in your life then you haven’t heard the message of Christmas, or you’re choosing not to believe it, or you aren’t meditating and focusing on it.

“For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He[even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
John 3:16 AMP

If you think of Christmas scriptures, this probably isn’t on your list, and yet it is all about Christmas! Do you realize that God so greatly and dearly treasured you, that He gave you a Gift? And that gift is the greatest Gift of all: His Son, Jesus. This GIft was given to rescue you from perishing and give you eternal life. We often do not feel the impact of the truth in this verse because we don’t realize how much rescuing we actually needed.

Through Jesus, God has rescued us from the sin problem and placed us in a safe place: eternal life. Eternal life is knowing God (John 17:3). That is amazing! We can know God – have a friendship with Him – because of Jesus’ coming! Here’s more good news: the way to receive this Gift and experience this salvation (rescuing from perishing and receiving eternal life) is to simply believe (trust in) in Jesus. This salvation cannot be earned or bought – it’s a gift that God has freely given to you.

Christmas is all about Jesus and His coming, and that makes it a season of love, joy and peace. This Christmas (and always), God wants you to know that you are deeply loved and treasured by Him and that He is at complete peace with you (He’s not angry). Knowing and meditating on this will produce great joy!