What If There Were No Christmas

"Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord." Neh. 8:10

With all the talk of "Happy Holidays" or "Seasons Greetings" instead of "Merry Christmas" it got me to thinking. What if there were no Christmas? Regardless of the reasons for the choice of dates to celebrate, ultimately Christmas is the birthday of Jesus Christ. It is the advent of Eternity taking on human flesh. So what if Jesus had never come?

What if God chose not to reveal Himself? What if the Bible ended with the book of Malachi?Allow yourself to take a few moments today in the midst of all the bustle of family and gifts and all that you do on this special day to think about what would be different in our world if Jesus Christ had never come into the world. If God had not chosen to enter into time by taking on human flesh and being born as a baby, then just consider the difference in the world.

Now as you realize how different the world would be, consider how different it is in some places where people have still not heard the Good News that the angels brought to the shepherds. Countless billion remain in the darkness of never having heard the message of Christmas.

I know that Nehemiah's words were about something entirely different, but do they not challenge us? Enjoy what Christmas means. Celebrate the coming of Christ. But consider also your responsibility to help to take the message of peace and hope and joy to those who have nothing prepared today. Merry Christmas, and God bless you.

The Heart of Worship

"This people draws near to me with their lips, but their heart is far from me." (Matt. 15:8)

Jesus quotes the prophet Isaiah here to denote that true worship is a matter of the heart and not a matter of words. It is not how loud or enthusiastically we sing on Sunday in church that denotes truth in worship. It is our surrender in obedience on a daily basis.

In I Samuel 15 God tells King Saul to go and destroy King Agag and the Amalekites. The Amalekites had ruthlessly attacked the Israelites as they were wandering in the wilderness. So God had devoted them to destruction. But rather than kill the king and thoroughly destroy all they had, Saul took some trophies. One of his excuses was that he needed sheep to offer in worship. And through the prophet Samuel we have these words, "Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams."

As Christmas day approaches, let me ask this question again. What will you offer as a gift to this baby born to be King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The magi brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh. God desires your gift of your heart. He desires you worship him in truth, which means in obedience. This Christmas give to Christ your heart in full surrender to Him. Purpose to obey Him in all things.