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The Christian Online Magazine
What CHRISTmas Is
Christmas Issue 2011
by Gerard J. Drummond
Isaiah 9:6,7/ Micah 5:2/Luke 2:8-11
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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, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel, whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
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The reason for celebrating Christmas, is Jesus.We should turn all our attention toward Him.Jesus should be our main focus.It is His birth that we celebrate.There is a saying around this time of year that goes like this, "Jesus is the reason for the season"We seem to have forgotten that.We tend to focus our attention on all the other aspects of Christmas and neglect the main reason for Christmas and that is Jesus.
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Jesus came to this earth to deliver us from sin and to bring us into a right relationship with God.Jesus did this through His sacrifice on the cross.1 John:2:1,2 tells us, My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
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During this Christmas season we should be expressing love, joy and with a giving attitude towards everyone. We should also be forgiving towards one another.Actually, we should be doing this all year.
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We can use the Christmas tree, Santa Clause, mistletoe, wreaths and giving presents to each other, as long as we don't put those things before God or make them more important than the real reason we celebrate Christmas.
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In Exodus 20: 3-6 God makes this very plain.
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Thou shalt have no other gods before me.Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in thewater under the earth:Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God. Visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
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Through this scripture, God, is a very jealous God.He does not want us putting anything or anybody before Him.It is up to us individually to make that decision.No one else can make it for us.God will not force us to put Him first, He leaves it up to us.God gave us all free will.He will never violate our free will to choose which way we will go.I hope we all choose to go the way God wants us to go.My prayer is that everyone will have a blessed and joyous Christmas. Here is two poems I thought you might like to read and meditate on during this Christmas season.
LOVE
The perfect gift of love has come,
For God has sent His only Son.
The perfect gift of love is here----
The Son has died our sins to bear.
The perfect gift of hope is ours----
The Son now lives forever more!
By Susan Hauser Bramigk
JOY
Long ago in Bethlehem
Our Savior came to earth,
And at this holy time of year
We celebrate His birth
With prayers that all may truly seek
To know our Lord and King
And find the wondrous joy and peace
That trusting Him can bring.
By Virginia Richardson
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© Gerard J. Drummond
The Christian Online Magazine
