ISAIAH 9: 6-7; LUKE 2: 1-7

Brethren, as we prepare to celebrate Christmas, I wish to remind us of the reason for the season of Christmas.. Our greatest need was forgiveness of our sins and so God sent us a SAVIOR! Acts 4:12 says “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Isaiah 9:6 reads “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Most often we are guilty of celebrating Christmas as a holiday with new clothes, partying, gift giving and receiving, while we are so far away in heart from our Savior who was born in Bethlehem almost 2015 years ago. Just as there was no room in the inn, there are times when people do not let Jesus come into their hearts. (Luke 2:7) Satan wants us to ignore God so that he can keep us from God. Mathew 12:30 says “He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters”. God demonstrates His love for us through His Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Romans 5:8 writes “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners Christ died for us”. Christmas is God’s demonstration of how Jesus, His only begotten Son came to reconcile us to God and also to each other. As a forgiven and reconciled people, we have a responsibility to preserve, reaffirm and demonstrate our love for one another. If we do anything that is hurtful to someone, and do it deliberately, then we are not reaffirming our love for each other. Instead, what we are practicing is selfish ambition. (Philippians 2:3) Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Jesus came to set the captives of sin free and to give life to us. This season is about the family of God; it is about the gift of salvation that God is offering to you through His Son – Jesus! He wanted to give us the chance to be a part of God’s kingdom. Jesus came to do some things for us so that we can stand before God knowing that heaven will be our home. Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, let us make Christ the center of our celebration this Christmas season. Let us remember that our blessings are a result of His birth, our joy is because of Jesus, our Christmas Carols are because of our Savior and our inheritance is because of His incarnation. Christmas is all about celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and experiencing His joy, peace and hope. This Christmas, let us make room for Jesus in the chambers of our hearts. Do NOT take Christ out of Christmas, Jesus is the Reason for the Christmas Season. MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!