Christmas Is Not Your Birthday
Mike Slaughter write a book entitled Christmas is Not Your Birthday and it has inspired many people to change the way they do Christmas. The way they celebrate the birth of Christ.
The Celebration of Christ has been for many years now a celebration of me! For most people.
Quote “According to the National Retail Federation, as of 2010, adult consumers spent an average of $830 each on holiday food, decorations, and presents. In a two-parent family, that equates to roughly $1,660.”
When I think about Christmas, I think about what I want more than anything else in the world is to be with my family. If we were to take away the gifts, take away the parties, take away the food, take away the Christmas trees, the lights, You can certainly have Santa Claus. Just give me my family! I want to be with my family.
How many of you have seen these news stories of soldiers who have been reunited with their families at Christmas. Listen these families aren’t thinking about Christmas trees and gifts, they just want mama or daddy.
What do you think? Am I the only one who would rather have the people in my life than the gifts? I truly believe that at least 99% of the people would rather have the family and friends in our life than to have the gifts.
What the Bible says about the True Meaning of Christmas
Matthew 1: 18-25
18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.
20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:
23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,
which means ‘God is with us.’”
24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. 25 But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.
Take away all the stuff about the miraculous birth and it was miraculous. Put that aside for a few minutes to see what the meaning of Christmas is.
The meaning of Christmas is Jesus being with us! Immanuel = God With Us…
If this is the case, What can we do, What Should we do this Christmas to give Jesus the gift he would desire or to give to the world the gift of Christmas?
What would it look like to give “THE GIFT OF CHRISTMAS TO THE WORLD?
Matthew 25: 31-40
31 “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
When we do these things we give the gift of Christ to the world and we gift Christ the gift He desires Himself.
Pastor Ronnie