Can you allow me to get real brave right now as I step out to say to all;  Merry Christmas!!! We may want to chuckle but it’s sad that whether or not we say Merry Christmas or play it safe and say Happy Holidays has become such a hot issue in our world today. If people would just take a moment to stop and look at their calendar it would clear things up; on December 25 the calendar says it’s Christmas Day not Holiday Day.

If you ask me, I believe the crux of the problem lies not with whether we say the words Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays  but with what lies in the heart of man concerning this matter. The world will strongly push the idea of Santa, at Christmas and please know that this is not about me bashing Santa Clause; that must be our own conviction, but what I want us as believers to look at is; are we making sure that the true meaning of Christmas remains in our heart and in the hearts of our family and we’re not caving in to what the world says.

In the Gospel of Luke 2:8-14 as we read about the Christmas story, my Bible says that when those lowly shepherds in the field saw the angel of the Lord appear to them and the glory of the Lord shone about them, they became terrified; wouldn’t you also be terrified. The angel says, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.” Later on we read where a host of angels appear and we hear them shouting and praising saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom Hs favor rests.” Nowhere in my Bible do I find where it says,  Ho, Ho, Ho.

As I said at the beginning my goal is not to bash Santa Claus but as believers, should not our focus be more on what Christmas is really about and not what the world wants us to believe? A Savior was born unto us, God Almighty who came to die for your sins and mine!! There isn’t a Santa Clause around that could do that for you or me.

Santa Clause, also known as Saint Nicholas or Kris Kringle, is a legendary figure who in the Western culture brought gifts to the homes of all the good children during the late hours of Christmas Eve.  Now I can only speak for myself but I always wasn’t found to be a good child, in fact more times than not I was a  pretty bad child. Now in keeping with the concept that Santa Clause only brought gifts to the good children on Christmas Eve, I would have not received too many presents, if any at all. That concept doesn’t hold a lot of hope to so many people. Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

The angel said to those shepherds that night out in the field that he brought them good news! In the town of David a Savior had been born to them. These no name shepherds represent you and me and the good news that a Savior has been born to us should give us the greatest hope of all. This wonderful gift was given not only to those shepherds but to the whole world!! There’s not a sleigh or bag in this world large enough for Santa Clause to put that in.

Like everyone else I love receiving gifts during Christmas but we must always keep in the forefront of our minds that at Christmas we are celebrating the birth of a Savior, not the birth of a legendary good man.

As I said earlier, the Christmas story in the Bible doesn’t say anywhere Ho, Ho, Ho, but instead it says, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests!!!” 

So can we not see that it’s Merry Christmas, not Happy Holidays. It’s glory to God in the highest, not Ho, Ho, Ho. It’s good news of a Savior not just another gift that will soon get old or wear out.

This Christmas and every Christmas to follow, give gifts to those you love, bring good cheer to all but never forget why we celebrate Christmas; it’s the birth of Christ the Lord, our Savior, who came to bring the world the greatest gift of all, Himself and redemption!!!

Feliz Navidad to all!! Merry Christmas!!!