Not the Reason! What?!
Common Christian laments: "They are trying to take Christ out of Christmas!" "With all that commercialization it is no longer a holy day." and still my favorite, "Jesus is the reason for the season!"
Guess what? He is not the reason. His word even says so. Let's go see:
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Not convinced? OK. Let's look again.
Luke 2:8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
Are you following? No? OK. We will see if this connects the dots for you.
John 1:9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
If you still haven't figured out that Jesus is not the reason then I will give you this last one -
Philippians 2:5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross!
So if you haven't figured it out, Jesus is not the reason, we are. He came here for us not for him. We are the reason for the season. This should not puff you up. Rather it should humble you to the point of planting your face in the ground. It does me. Think about it. We were so screwed up that in order for us to continue, God himself had to become one of us and die like the worst of us. The gift was to us. Jesus Christ, God Himself, is our Christmas gift. Not we His. He doesn't need a birthday party! But we sure do!
So when all of that holiday craziness starts getting you down or feeding the fires of your righteous indignation, remember, we are His creation not He ours and all of the "holiday hijacking" is irrelevant because it is not His party, but ours and you can't make what is already unholy, unholy.
Guess what? He is not the reason. His word even says so. Let's go see:
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Not convinced? OK. Let's look again.
Luke 2:8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
Are you following? No? OK. We will see if this connects the dots for you.
John 1:9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
If you still haven't figured out that Jesus is not the reason then I will give you this last one -
Philippians 2:5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross!
So if you haven't figured it out, Jesus is not the reason, we are. He came here for us not for him. We are the reason for the season. This should not puff you up. Rather it should humble you to the point of planting your face in the ground. It does me. Think about it. We were so screwed up that in order for us to continue, God himself had to become one of us and die like the worst of us. The gift was to us. Jesus Christ, God Himself, is our Christmas gift. Not we His. He doesn't need a birthday party! But we sure do!
So when all of that holiday craziness starts getting you down or feeding the fires of your righteous indignation, remember, we are His creation not He ours and all of the "holiday hijacking" is irrelevant because it is not His party, but ours and you can't make what is already unholy, unholy.
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