JESUS CHRIST: The Only Reason for the Season

Scripture:  Luke 2:11

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas. A Winter Festival instead of a Christmas Concert at the local school. Seasons greetings instead of let's celebrate the Savior's birth. It is interesting to me how many people are willing to be politically correct when it comes to the only reason for this season. Make no mistake the only reason for the season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ the Savior, the Messiah, God's only Son. I know many people always make the argument that we don't know the exact date of Jesus' birth, but I also find it interesting that they don't either. It's not about the exact date. It is about celebrating that He was born.

The birth of the Savior for the true Christian is celebrated every day. However, many in society have decided to celebrate it during this time of season in a more formal manner. The true meaning of the season does rest in the birth of the Savior, not in the Christmas parties, Christmas events, the lighting of the trees or any of those commercial events that seem to have overtaken the true meaning of this season. I also find it very interesting that the word Christ is in Christmas yet many people will celebrate Christmas and make a deliberate attempt to not include Christ. This is the equivalent of celebrating your birthday, but deliberately excluding you. Let us not forget the real reason, the only true reason for this season; that the Messiah came to save us from our sins. We can all acknowledge that we as human beings are sinful, and in order to be in a right relationship with God we were in need of a Savior. God sent his son into the world that we might be saved through him and that is reason to celebrate. Do not take this season, or this time of year as a time to deny the Savior, but to embrace what His arrival on this earth meant for us all. In our quest to be politically correct we deny Him and the purpose of His coming.

I know many people often say “well I don't want to offend anyone.” However, it is very interesting to me that those who are opposed to Christ or the use of the word Christmas have no problem offending Christians. We as Christians have to begin to make it very clear whose side we are on. When we deny what we know to be true, we offend God in order to please people. Peter is ostracized by many for denying Jesus three times. However, how many times do we deny him just in our salutations when we're conscious enough to know that we should offer people a greeting that is representative of our belief that the Savior came to the earth for our sakes. Yet we dress it up with a politically correct salutation instead.

Scripture tells us that born to us this day in the city of David is a Savior, which is Christ the Lord this means that the only reason we as Christians should be celebrating at this time of year and every day. However, we cannot deny him during this special time of year that is set aside to commemorate His birth. These subtle denials and compromises will lead to big issues in the life of a Christian. Jesus himself said in Matthew 10:33 “But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” Do not allow political correctness, pleasing people, not wanting to take a stand for Christ, or any other reason to stop you from fully celebrating the birth of the Savior. If Christ is your personal Savior. You can not deny Him. If you are ashamed of Him and deny Him then perhaps you should reevaluate your relationship with Him.

The commercial parts of Christmas should never outweigh the spiritual component that makes Christmas what it is. The reason why we should have such a large celebration of the birth of the Savior is because as the Bible says we were held captive by sin and Jesus Christ is the payment for our sins. Look at it this way, we were just like a child held hostage by kidnappers and Christ represents the ransom payment for our freedom. To deny Him as Savior or our ransom payment is the same as denying the one who paid for your freedom their proper due. If you acknowledge that you are in need of forgiveness of sin then this is the perfect time of year to celebrate the birth of the ultimate payment for all of our sins; Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God. Or as it says in Isaiah 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” He is all of those and more for whoever will receive Him and not deny Him and that is the only reason we need to celebrate this season.

Challenge: Do not deny Him celebrate Him this and every season.