Christmas

Christmas is almost with us. Just a few more days. I see people scurrying, and hurrying ~ in a frenzy to find the perfect present for loved ones. This year, with the poor economy, there is so much anxiety. We have trained our children to expect the latest Play Station or X Box or Wii. These items all come with very high price tags. And that doesn't even cover the game software that you have to purchase with them. If the gifts aren't piled high under the tree there isn't just disappointment, there's downright anger in some kids.

Many of us have forgotten the true reason for Christmas. It's about what happened over 2,000 years ago, and the impact it has had and is still having all these many years.

God came to earth as a baby. The Lord of all Creation left the glories of Heaven for a stable. He came knowing that He would be rejected as King of His Chosen People, that He would be betrayed, beaten, and eventually die a horrible death.

Why? Why did He give up so much? He did this because He loves us, His children. He sacrificed everything so that we might have eternal life. Everything that happened to Jesus was foretold. Read what it ways in Isaiah 53: 1~7:

1. Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?


2. He grew up before him like a tender shot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majest to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.


3. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.


4. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.


5. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.


6. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.


7. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

I pray that we all will take time the Christmas to ponder on the true meaning of Christmas. It's not about gifts. It's not about indulging in rich food and drink. It's not about decorating our houses with ornaments and lights. It's not even about spending time with loved ones.

Christmas is about Jesus. It's about our redemption by the death of this man - God walking on earth. Please, let us not forget this. Have a blessed Christmas, everyone.