Don't forget the reason for the season!

Hate to burst your bubble, but Christmas isn't all about Santa Clause. It isn't about all the busyness of shopping and gift giving. It isn't about setting up the tree. It isn't about putting up the christmas lights. It isn't about the presents. It isn't even about spending time with family. While those things are all well and good, they don't fully capture the reason for the season. So what is Christmas about? The real meaning of Christmas is found in the very name of the season: Christ. The birth of our Savior and Lord! I know it's a well known passage that's been beaten into our skulls since our Sunday School years, but Luke 2:1-20 reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas:

The Birth of Jesus

 ¹ In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to their own town to register.  ⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
 ⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
 ¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
 ¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
   and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
 ¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
 ¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

The key verse here is verse 11. "Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord." Think about that. No really. Think about that. Ponder that. This person who was born  is a Savior.  A savior for who? A savior for us! For you, and me! To save us from what? What is he savior for? Our sin! The whole reason Jesus came was to seek and save what was lost. He came to give his life as a ransom for many. He came to die on the most cruel, painful, cursed, torture device of the day: the cross. He came to die to redeem us from our sins. His blood covers our sins! He came not only to be a payment for our sin, but to save us from our sin. To give us a new life. A life to be lived in the full. A life to be lived for Christ. He is the Messiah! The chosen one! The promised one! This plan was put in place long before the foundations of the world. Already in the beginning of Genesis, his coming is foretold. And he is the Lord. A lord was one who had authority. One who was to be obeyed. One who gave orders that were expected to be followed. Jesus is our Lord. After he rose from the grave, he ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. His work was done. He was given all authority in heaven and on earth. Jesus is our King. Obedience is not an option. Unfortunately many "Christians" today have left this part out. They recognize Jesus as Savior, and stop there. As long as we read the bible and say some prayers and go to Church on occasion we are good, right? Wrong! Jesus tells us that if we love him, we will obey his commands. An his command is simply this: to love others has he has loved us. To serve others as he has served us. To serve with unconditional, agape love. To go out into this world, building into the lives of people, guiding them as they grow in the Lord, and teaching them to do what we did for them to others. This is our calling. That is why we are here. Seems hard right? Yes, it is hard. I certainly don't do a good job of it at times.  But there is hope! Jesus reminds  us that apart from him we can do nothing. Our efforts come to nothing without him. The strength to follow these commands could never come from us. So what are we to do? We are to allow Christ to first work in our lives. Transforming us. Shaping us. Molding us into what He wants us to be. To submit to him and his authority. And as this process is taking place, he will be able to work through us. His love will fill our lives, and over flow, and flood the lives of others around us. He will work in the lives of others around us. He changes lives, not us. We just need to be faithful in submission to him. In living for him.

This is what Christmas is all about. This is the reason for the season. The coming of Christ and what that means for our lives. So for this year, next year, and all the years to come, put Christ into your Christmas, and into your life.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~This is Christmas~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
By Kutless

Do you find it hard to sleep til' night,
Resting by the Christmas lights?
Could there be something you forgot?
Beyond the bows, and mistletoes,
The tree with presents wrapped below,
There's more to this than you had ever thought?
Have we lost the reason that we celebrate each year?

Chorus:
What is Christmas?
If there never was a Savior wrapped in a manger.
What is Christmas without Christ?

Remember how the story goes, 
God's gift was wrapped in swaddling clothes,
Beneath the star, one great and holy night.
The shepherds heard the angels sing,
The wise man brought an offering,
Peace on Earth began in Bethelethm
Have we lost the reason that we celebrate each year?

Chorus:
What is Christmas?
If there never was a Savior wrapped in a manger.
What is Christmas?
If the angels never sang 'Glory to the new born king?'
What is Christmas without Christ?

There'd be no gloria
In excelsis deo
Gloria
In excelsis deo

What is Christmas?
If there never was a Savior wrapped in a manger.
What is Christmas without Christ?
This is Christmas,
It’s all about the Savior wrapped in a manger.
This is Christmas,
Because of Jesus Christ!
This is Christmas,
Because of Christ!
Because of Christ!