Christmas Devotions: Beast of a Feast

Hebrews 7:25 Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.

Sometimes, in the midst of all the pressure that we put ourselves under, we set aside the reason for the season and get caught up with the beast of the Feast. It’s nice to buy things for the people that we love (and it helps the economy), but if we become obsessed about how we are dressed, or over-wrought with what we’ve bought, we’ve missed the heart from the very start, and made a mess of Christmas.

You see Christmas is not about what we’ve given, but of what we are forgiven. We look for happiness and joy in all the wrong places; we seek contentment and satisfaction in things that we will eventually throw away. We go on a Yuletide mission to stay happy and be glad, even when our hearts are breaking, and the demands that we place upon ourselves, and those around us, have the potential to demonize our spirits.

Christmas is meant to be kept simply in our hearts. I guess if God wanted it to be a time of partying, there would have been room at the inn. Reveling is different from rejoicing. Feasting is not the same as worshiping. The tinsel and the glitter, the toys and the garlands are all decorations of our own making. We will take them down and put them past in a few days; this Christmas will be over, but will we have missed the Christ?

Jesus will still be working and interceding for us in heaven. We depend upon Him each day to restore us to God. We could celebrate a million Christmases, shop in a billion stores, and give away a zillion gifts, but none of it would matter in eternal terms. If we do not come to God through Jesus, we cannot be completely saved. If we fail to give our hearts and lives to Him, Christ cannot intercede on our behalf.

So let’s all make and take time to set Christmas aside and bring Christ to the front. Remember, it’s not about what we’re giving or getting, it’s about not forgetting what Christ is constantly forgiving.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we seek to meet You tomorrow as a Star Child, who is rocked gently to sleep in a young mother’s arms, in the midst of a stable. We paint a Christmas card picture of the First Christmas in our hearts and minds, falsely believing that this is all You require of us. Turn us away from the quaint customs of Christmas and lead us toward You as our Christ. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

4 Minute Devotions: Songs of Joy

Why are atheists so afraid of Christmas and nativity scenes in public places?

Psalm 65:8 Those living far away fear your wonders; where morning dawns and evening fades you call forth songs of joy.

Watching the news the other day, I saw the unveiling of an atheist declaration of unbelief that was placed next to a menorah and a nativity scene. I can’t remember in which city this occurred, but I couldn’t help feeling sorry for the people who demanded that their own non-religious beliefs be put next to symbols and images of Hannukah and Christmas. It was like seeing Ebenezer Scrooge come to life.

I guess it made them feel happy and that their own dignity was preserved. However, their statements about myths and no gods were ignored by the people who came to see the baby Jesus in the manger. They only had eyes for a good old fashioned nativity scene and for the feelings that it invoked. If anything, the atheistic declaration only heightened the spiritual awareness that God exists, and that our Redeemer came into the world 2000 years ago.

It makes me wonder what atheists fear about Christmas. Do they revel in their own misery rather than rejoicing in the mystery of God? Are they expecting folks to go and be fearful, instead of encouraging others to come and be faithful? No matter what they think they have achieved in that city mall, the sounds of hope and laughter, mixed with carols and songs of joy, will continually be heard across the world till the end of Time.

So, no matter what the atheists in our society believe or don’t believe, Christ is still the King of Christmas, and always will be throughout eternity.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we thank You for the laughter and joy we experience each Christmas. We praise You for the warmth of Your Spirit and the wonder of Your birth. We welcome You into our hearts and homes, our towns and cities, our meeting places and shopping malls. Gloria in Excelsis! Amen.