Think on Christmas
Pastor Gary Oser
In just a few short weeks, it will be Christmas.
What comes to your mind when you think of Christmas? I would like to suggest a few important words.
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The first word would be Savior.
Romans 3:23 reminds us that we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. Therefore, we need a Savior who can cleanse us from sin. That is what Christmas is about. The angels said to the shepherds, “…for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). Christmas celebrates the fact that Jesus took on the flesh and came into the world to be our Savior and cleanse us from sins.
The second word would be joy.
Matthew shares the account of the wise men seeking the baby Jesus. Matthew 2:9 says, “After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the child was.”
Verse 10 continues, “When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.” The Living Bible says, “Their joy knew no bounds!” One of the Christmas carols we sing frequently says, “Joy to the world! The Lord is come…” (“Joy to the World,” Isaac Watts).
Christmas is a time of joy. The joy we experience should know no bounds and spill over into the lives of others.
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The third word is worship.
We find this word in relation to the wise men. Matthew 2:1-2 says, “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem saying, ‘Where is He who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.’”
Verse 11 continues, “After coming into the house, they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him.”
Worship is about coming into God’s presence and telling how much we love Him, telling Him how amazed we are at all His marvelous works. It is praising Him for all that He has done for us.
During the Christmas season especially, we should be continually coming into God’s presence expressing our adoration and praise to Him for sending His Son into the world to be our Savior.