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by Greg Laurie
"Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name ‘Immanuel,' which is translated, ‘God with us.' " —Matthew 1:23
At this time of the year, we say, "Merry Christmas." I prefer that to "Happy Holidays," but I don't get confrontational about it. Instead, I want to be gracious. After all, Christmas isn't always a happy time for everyone. For someone who has lost their job, this is not the most wonderful time of the year, because so much emphasis is placed on a merry Christmas being a materialistic one.
There are also those who have lost loved ones. I am one of those people, and things that once made me happy at this time of year now make me sad. Those things that once brought happiness are now things that bring sadness, because they evoke memories of times we spent together. Therefore, Christmas becomes a difficult time for some.
There are many who are in need of encouragement at this time of year. They don't need a Christmas present; they need His Christmas presence. They need to be reminded of what this season is all about. It is not about things. It is not about presents.
These things have their place, but we need to remember the essential message of Christmas, which is Immanuel—God is with us. And for the hurting person, the lonely person, the sorrowing person, this is the time of year to bring the gift of encouragement to them and say, "The message of Christmas is: God will be with you. God will help you. God will strengthen you."
So look for opportunities to share the love of God during this season, because it is a time when we seem to be more open to engaging in conversation with others. Now is a great opportunity for you to bring encouragement to someone who is struggling. Who needs your encouragement today?
Copyright © 2011 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
See Also:
The Promise of Christmas by Greg Laurie
It's All About
Him by Greg Laurie
With Christmas, we have a sense of wonder, beauty, and anticipation.
We look forward to being with loved ones, family and friends, and
eating incredible food. It is a wonderful time of the year. It is
also a time that is marked, for the most part, by an absence of
meanness. There is a kindness that people will demonstrate toward
one another, even strangers.
Have you ever asked children what Christmas means to
them?
This Jesus who was born in a manger, .., is not some mere historical figure, although He was that. He
is alive, and He is still in the business of changing lives.
That is the reason He came: to put us in touch with God, to forgive us of all of
our sins, and to give our lives purpose and meaning.
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