The Truth about Christmas

It’s Not about You

Micah 5:2 – “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

Isaiah 7:14 – Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

These were written AT LEAST 300 years prior to the first Christmas.  It was written…and then it happened.  It had a beginning.  It had a purpose.  It had a reason. Christmas didn’t used to always exist.  It had a beginning.  And it still has a purpose.  It has a reason.  Santa didn’t start it.  Getting presents wasn’t the purpose.  What was the reason it started?  What was the initial reason it was celebrated?  Most importantly, what’s the reason YOU celebrate Christmas?  What do you think about first when you hear the word “Christmas” spoken?

The Real Christmas Story

*A clip from a Christmas Story  ....What a Christmas Classic!

THE Christmas Story:

The Birth of Jesus

2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while^[a]Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to their own town to register.

⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Luke 2:1-20

2 December Challenges

Challenge # 1 –

Tell God thank you every day from this point forward throughout the rest of December.  There are not that many days left. DO IT. Talk to Him about how thankful you are (or want to be) for Him sending a part of Himself to Earth in the form of a human.  Take special time to do this for the rest of this month beyond however long you usually take to have focused talks with God.

Challenge #2 –

Buy a gift for someone you normally wouldn’t and include this verse on the wrapping/tag/card: 

Isaiah 7:14.  God did something out of the ordinary for us on the 1^st Christmas.  You can’t pay it back, so pay it forward.  Instead of giving a physical gift, perhaps DO SOMETHING that requires a sacrifice of time to someone who you normally wouldn’t……to someone from whom you do not expect repayment.

Luke 6:32-34 – “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. ³³ And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. ³⁴ And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.”

Remember, God did something for you that He knew you could never repay.  So pay it forward.

Dallas Ozone loves y'all. Praying for a safe, joyful, blessed Christmas break! We will see you next year! It's been real 2013.