Have you noticed that Christmas season seems to start earlier and earlier this year? At the malls near us, they went directly from Halloween to Christmas completely skipping over Thanksgiving. The day after Halloween, they already had Santa’s Village set up at a local mall. Now, a week before Thanksgiving, that same mall is decorated for Christmas!
As we walked around the mall at lunch the other day, I noticed that people had lot’s of bags from shopping at toy stores. I asked “are you shopping for Christmas?” Time and time again the answer was yes. So I asked a simple question, “why do you celebrate Christmas?”
For me, the answer is simple – it is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, savior of the world.
However, you might be surprised, that asking at least a dozen people this question at the mall, only one gave an answer that had anything to do with Jesus and Him alone being the savior of the world.
It got me thinking that while most would agree that this is the “most wonderful time of the year” that for the Christian, it really is. Consider the song by watching this video and reading the lyrics (from STLyrics.com) below that follow:
It’s the most wonderful time of the year
With the kids jingle belling
And everyone telling you “Be of good cheer”
It’s the most wonderful time of the year
It’s the hap-happiest season of all
With those holiday greetings and gay happy meetings
When friends come to call
It’s the hap- happiest season of allThere’ll be parties for hosting
Marshmallows for toasting
And caroling out in the snow
There’ll be scary ghost stories
And tales of the glories of
Christmases long, long agoIt’s the most wonderful time of the year
There’ll be much mistltoeing
And hearts will be glowing
When love ones are near
It’s the most wonderful time of the yearThere’ll be parties for hosting
Marshmallows for toasting
And caroling out in the snow
There’ll be scary ghost stories
And tales of the glories of
Christmases long, long agoIt’s the most wonderful time of the year
There’ll be much mistltoeing
And hearts will be glowing
When love ones are near
It’s the most wonderful time
It’s the most wonderful time
It’s the most wonderful time
It’s the most wonderful time of the year
As you read those lyrics, do you see anything about Jesus? Nope! But you see just about everything else. Yet, as a Christian, I submit that this is the most wonderful time of the year.
Why?
Because it is so easy to talk to people about Jesus. The motto of Bezeugen Mnistries is “As You Go”. What do we mean by that? We man to share the Gospel “as you go”. Whether it is going to work, the store or school, look for opportunities to share the Gospel “as you go”. At Christmas time this is so easy. As people questions like
Do you celebrate Christmas?
Why do you celebrate Christmas?
Does Christmas have any spiritual meaning to you?
Why do you think Jesus had to be born?
All of these questions help to understand the persons spiritual condition and lead to an opportunity to share the Gospel. In the last week, I’ve meet Muslims, Hindu’s, Bhuddists and Athiests who all admitted that they celebrate Christmas. So it is interesting to hear why they celebrate Christmas and then have the opportunity to share with them the true meaning of Christmas.
that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
In order for Christ to die according to the scriptures, he had to first be born. He had to be born to fulfill the prophecy of the Old Testament.
“As You Go” this Christmas season, make it the most wonderful time of the year by sharing the Gospel with everyone you meet!
