What
is Christmas to you? Christmas is many things to many people, but what is
Christmas to you? Christmas is more than just a historical event of a baby sent
by God and born in a manger, an event we celebrate annually.
Christmas
is Christ born "for you" that He might be "born in you."
When the angels announced to the shepherds that "for you" is
born this day in the city of David, a child who is the Savior, Christ the
Lord" (Luke 2:11), they were declaring to all mankind (not just the
shepherds) that Christ was born "for you" a Savior. Christ
as Savior "for you," means He has "made you safe" from
dysfunctional sinful humanity, as by faith you allow Him to function
dynamically as your life. Because of Christmas you have been made free to be
man as God intended you to be.
Christmas
is a personal experience. Unless Christmas is personalized, understanding that
Christ was born "for you," it will only be an impersonal
historical event that is celebrated once a year. The message of Christmas is
the incarnation of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, born "for
you," and available to be "born in you" (John 3:1-6).
Christ was born to die "for you," and raised from the dead to give
His life “to you.” The apostle Paul opens his epistle to the Romans
proclaiming this good news, "concerning His Son, who was born of a
descendant of David according to the flesh, who was declared the Son of God
with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of
holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 1:3-4).
Christmas
was meant to be experienced not just celebrated. The Spirit of Christmas is the
divine life of Christ born "for you," that He might be born "in
you" to live "through you." Only then is Christmas really
Christmas, when Christmas has come alive in our hearts. Mary, the mother
of Jesus was there that first Christmas morning and she knew how to experience
Christmas: "Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her
HEART" (Luke 2:19). Christmas is meant for the heart. Hold Christmas
dearly "for you" deep within your heart and you will find the reality
of Christmas being birthed through you for others, bringing a truly Merry
Christmas!