[x_custom_headline type=”left” level=”h4″ looks_like=”h4″]As the song so accurately states, Christmas is “the most wonderful time of the year.” However, for many people it has become a time of great stress and pressure, instead of the great celebration that it should be. Because during the entire holiday season, genuine celebration is often replaced with the drudgery of all of the Christmas obligations we have.[/x_custom_headline]
Most of us can at times find ourselves completely maxed out with everything we have to get accomplished during Christmastime. From all of the shopping, wrapping, decorating and cooking, there are also the school events for your children or grandchildren to attend, as well as those events held at work, at the church, and of course, with your own family and friends. And the result of all of this is, that people often replace the celebration of Christmas, with an overload of fatigue from walking on the treadmill of duties associated with it all. But that of course isn’t at all what it is supposed to be like.
I don’t know if you have ever thought about it or not, but celebration is actually God’s idea. In fact, throughout the Bible we find that He instituted times to feast and celebrate with others the goodness of the Lord. This is why I believe that Christmas should be the biggest celebration of the entire year.
[highlight]Celebration in God’s Word involves four things:[/highlight]
- Remembrance of what the Lord has done for you, and where He has brought you from.
- Rejoicing in the Lord for His goodness towards us.
- Feasting to celebrate with others God’s mighty power, as well as the kindness of the Lord which He has shown us through His provision and all of the benefits of our salvation.
- Giving to the Lord first, then to one another because of what the Lord has done for us.
So just because the world has polluted celebration, and tainted it with sin and debauchery, doesn’t mean we should not celebrate.
The word “holiday” is actually a derivative of the words HOLY DAY. And almost every holiday we celebrate had in its origin a spiritual meaning and value. And God had ordained HOLY DAYS of feasting and celebrating for His people.
However, much of this has been stripped away by secular leaders and the politically correct crowd. And even Christmas and its holy meaning is being despised and rejected a little more each year in our society. As a case in point, I just saw a department store with a huge sign in its window that read, “Merry Everything.”
[highlight]But Christmas isn’t a celebration of everything. It’s a celebration of Jesus Christ, and what He came to this earth to do.[/highlight]
Since it is Christmas, let’s celebrate that we have been redeemed and set free by the Blood of Jesus. Let’s celebrate that He came to destroy the works of the devil in our lives. Let’s celebrate that because of our redemption through Jesus, the blessings of Abraham are ours (see Deuteronomy 28:1-14). And let’s celebrate the Jesus Christ is our Healer, our Deliverer, our Provider, and the Joy of our salvation.
And something that we must realize is that there is only one real way to celebrate, and that is to be happy and excited. Look at what the Bible says about this.
[x_blockquote cite=”Nehemiah 8:10 AMP” type=”left”]“Then [Ezra] told them, Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet drink, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. And be not grieved and depressed, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and stronghold.”[/x_blockquote]
[x_blockquote cite=”Nehemiah 8:10 NLT” type=”left”]“And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”[/x_blockquote]
The day is holy. Don’t be grieved, depressed or sad. Go home, have a feast, and give gifts to one another. It’s Christmas! So let’s celebrate!
