Our Holiday

I don't have to tell you that Christmas is near. It is (I believe) the biggest commercial holiday of the year. Stores all over are trying to lure you in with sales, or lights and sparkle, or promises of the "perfect gift". But I got to have the most FANTASTIC conversation with my Crew this morning. Christmas is OUR holiday. And by "our" I mean it is a Christian holiday. Here's how I explained it to the Crew.

There are a superabundant number of holiday movies and songs out there boasting to have the "true" meaning of Christmas. You get things like, family, love, giving, and peace. But this morning I pressed the issue. I asked, "If you take Christ out of Christmas, what do you have?" And I got precisely those answers repeated. But why?

The concept of family was created by God in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. And it is redeemed in Christ becoming the propitiation for our sins so we can be adopted into God's family. What is "love" without the picture of Christ leaving the glories of heaven to sacrifice Himself for those who are utterly unlovely? What is "giving" without God giving us His Son, and the Son giving His life? And what is "peace" without the knowledge that through Christ we have peace with God? All these concepts are hollow apart from Christ! Now, PLEASE don't hear me saying that you should throw out your tree, or stop giving gifts, or whatever you do to celebrate Christmas! I love the trappings and sparkle and songs and stuff! I agree with the song that says "It's the most wonderful time of the year!" Just remember the FULLNESS of Christmas! God the Father sent His Son so that He could reconcile sinners to Himself!!! =)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
Ephesians 1:3-10
 
I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"
Galatians 4:1-6