December 8, 2006
Just a little more than two weeks and Christmas will be here.
Do I dare say the word? Christmas.
Some say that this word is offensive. And yet Christ talked about peace, love, life, abundant living, blessings, joy, destiny–all the things that most people that I meet truly are seeking.
Right now I see a trend in our nation to remove the first six letters of Christmas. What word would w
e put in its place? Money? Shopping? Justanotherholidaymas?
It’s not that Jesus was born specifically on December 25. It’s not about the day itself. There are many ways that we celebrate the birth of our Messiah. I don’t care if it’s that day–and the truth is that I want to celebrate him every day because, more books have been written, more lives changed, more genuine charity done in His name, and more hope restored than any person who has ever lived.
But I don’t want to remove his name, or the spirit of his love, from Christmas. I’m reading a book right now and one story captured my attention. It’s not a religious book, but in the story a Russian man stands in front of a church after communism is ended. He is listening to the sounds of people who have gathered at the church without fear and they are singing. Tears stream down his face. He says, “It is the sound of my country awakening from a long slumber. They are now free to worship once again.”
I just pray that we all understand how powerful a gift we have been given. . .
Merry Christmas–not the day, but Christ in you.
“Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere” (Mark
16:15 NLT).
