The Meaning Behind Christmas
I was visiting a couple of good friends in Virginia last week and had the opportunity to go to a local church there that had just opened. It was the Sunday before Christmas and the sermon that was given was one that was completely necessary, totally eye opening, and very humbling. I would like to take just a few moments to share with you what I learned from the sermon, in hopes that it will open your eyes and your hearts as well to the real meaning behind Christmas.
Luke 2: 8-14
‘And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”’
The word conspiracy often has a negative connotation. However, when it is referencing what happened between God, Son, and Holy Ghost when Christ was born, this conspiracy was anything but negative. It was a divine conspiracy between God, Son, and Holy Ghost to do something that was desperately needed on Earth. The plan was unveiled in a world that is no different then the world we live in today. (Except for the use of technology of course J)
Love With Courage
What does it truly mean to do this?
What does this look like?
It looks like what God did at Christmas…
Romans 8:32
‘He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all-how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?’
We all have one GREAT NEED: to be released from God’s wrath.
Now think about it. If God covered our greatest need by giving up his one and only Son so that we could be released from his wrath, released from death, and given a life restored, then why would we ever doubt that he will not cover all of our other needs? Many times when we think of love, we associate it with simply feelings or emotions. The truth is, these feelings and emotions are bi products of the love we have. They are bi products of the love we have for Christ, but it is not the purpose behind what God did. It is his personal choice to meet our needs at his own expense. It is not about doing something in order to get us to do more good deeds. He gives because we have a desperate need that can only be met by him and he gives his love freely. Isn’t this a much better picture of love then what our world shows us today?
The love Christ gives is SACRIFICIAL. This kind of love takes courage. This kind of love is real love. He courageously came to this fallen and broken world where people didn’t understand him, rebuked him, left him lonely, and persecuted him! Jesus was a foreigner in this world. Those who did look to him usually did it just to get what they wanted and took him for granted…and yet Jesus allowed it! He was constantly ridiculed, he was arrested, and punished innocently and unjustly. It took substantial courage to do what he did. The perfect example of God’s love for us is the courageous love he demonstrated then. I encourage you to stop and think for a moment about this kind of love that God showed you. I know you will find that this kind of love is not just something he showed us then, but it is something he is showing us now.
We too, as his sons and daughters, are called to be courageous and love courageously.
Joshua 1:9
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord you God will be with you wherever you go.”
We cannot be courageous alone. It is because of God and by his power that we are made strong and can love courageously as he did. Look back at Romans 8:32 though…what then do we need to live in fear of?!
Of course then he will make you courageous and allow you to love courageously. You need not doubt that.
Here are a few examples that you may be able to relate to of how loving with courage has been demonstrated:
-Choosing a job your family doesn’t agree with that may bring in less income and prestige. Yet you are doing it to serve God, out of a love for him and a desire to obey where and how he is calling you to serve.
-Stepping in as an advocate for someone who has little or no voice.
-Sharing your faith even though you may be made fun of, ridiculed, or persecuted.
-Forgiving someone even when he/she didn’t ask you to.
Remember that God is with you wherever you go and that he will continue to be so that others may know his name.
Love With Courage…The Real Meaning of Christmas. The Perfect Example of Love With No Limits.
Christ’s birth shows the absolute grace of God to save us from death in our sin. His Son is born on this earth in order to save us.
Our God who loves us so much demonstrates the perfect love story when he gave up his one and only son to die for us in order that we may have life in him. The perfect love story is demonstrated by Jesus who took on all of our sins that we threw upon him, who suffered death and was buried, and who rose again…to save a wretched sinner like you and me. He made us clean and he made us pure in God’s sight. We are sons and daughters of a God so in love with us. When you love someone like that….of course you want all of him or her, every little bit of him or her! It makes perfect sense why God wants all of you and all of me….he is that much in love with us. How blessed we are by the way God loves us with courage each and every day.
Romans 8: 38-39
‘For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’
Romans 12: 9-12
‘Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.’
Colossians 3: 12-14
‘Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.’
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