Christmas in Our Hearts

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!