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Every time we say, “Merry Christmas” it gives a reason for the hope we have.  At least, it should.  It should say we honor Christ in our hearts.  It should say His birth has led to us being born again.  It should say the end result is our eternal joy in Him.  When we say it, people should see we mean it.  Because we back up our words with our lives by shining His light into a dark and dreary world full of people in desperate need for an answer to their inescapable brokenness.  This year, let’s do more than say the words, “Merry Christmas.” Let’s also do things for others in the name of Jesus to make their Christmas a merry one.

When Jesus took on flesh to dwell among us, He didn’t insulate Himself from the ugliness, brokenness and sinfulness of this world. Life on earth for Jesus was filled with the same things we deal with: difficult people, difficult circumstances, difficult tasks and difficult experiences. He didn’t avoid these things; He endured these things. What Jesus did was suffer for us, to secure deliverance for us, so we can see and savor His glory now and forever. His birth was hard. His life was hard. His death was hard. This Christmas may be hard, but it is not without hope. Jesus made it through and will ensure you make it through too.

What does Jesus want for Christmas? It’s not our begrudging submission, reluctant giving, half-hearted worship, indifferent service, or lukewarm affection. These may be costly gifts, but they do not shine, and they are not sweet-smelling to our King. What Jesus wants is for us to get the full and lasting joy which comes from hearts that worship Him. For us to fall down in reverence. For us to stand up in awe. For us to walk on in joy. Jesus doesn’t just want our treasure; He wants to be our treasure. And when we see Him for Who He is, we will give to Him the honor He deserves and get from Him the happiness we desire.

To receive the gift of God’s Son is to also get countless blessings and benefits from being in a relationship with Him. But let’s be clear about one thing: if you want what Jesus can do for your life but don’t want Jesus in your life, you won’t receive Him or His blessings. Listen… He’s not just useful, He’s beautiful. He’s not just resourceful, He’s delightful. He’s not just helpful, He’s wonderful. Don’t you see? Jesus doesn’t just give us gifts; He is the gift. Being together with Him is the most precious gift He gives to us. And the more time we spend in His presence, the more beautiful, delightful and wonderful He becomes to us.

Christmas is for stuck people.  People stuck in the past with its haunting reminders of what they have done.  People stuck in the present with an endless search for happiness in the wrong places.  People stuck in fear of the future with its paralyzing grip that...

What does it mean to receive a gift? It means the gift wasn’t rejected, ignored or misused. Instead, it was worn, admired, eaten, enjoyed, watched, sprayed on, driven, listened to, put to work or played with as it was intended. An untouched gift is an unreceived gift. That’s why some people become believers and some do not. They embrace the life offered in Jesus or they live as if He isn’t even there. We know we have received the Christmas Gift of God’s Son by how He changes our lives. As children of God, we trust, obey, love and enjoy Jesus, and are transformed, empowered and blessed by Jesus. Just as God intends.

Christmas is a broken string of lights for many of us. It’s there, but it doesn’t seem to do what it’s supposed to do. It’s bleak, not bright. It’s melancholy, not merry. This time of year is disappointing and depressing for a lot of people for a lot of reasons. We’re a broken people in a broken world where there is much that is not as it ought to be. But there is hope for us, because Jesus came for the very reason so many struggle in this season … to fix what has been fractured in us and our world. As we wait for this to happen, let us turn to Him in our present darkness and ask Him to shine His everlasting light in our hearts.

This time of year is not about me. And it’s not about you. Yet, it’s easy to make it about us, isn’t it? We can get caught up in what we enjoy about, what we receive because of, and what we get to do during Christmastime and spend very little time getting caught up with Christ. It’s the most wonderful time of the year not because of the festive music, favorite movies, familiar decorations or family traditions that can rightly be a part of our holiday experience; it’s a time of celebration and jubilation and exaltation of Jesus. This year, may everything that is wonderful about Christmas make us full of wonder about Christ.

If there was no Christmas, there would be no hope for us. At His first coming, Jesus took our place so we can be with Him for eternity. At His second coming, Jesus will take us to a place where we can be with Him for eternity. Right now, it is easy to lose hope when we lose a loved one, lose a job, lose control, lose our health or lose our way, but a joy-filled, peace-filled hope is ours if we believe. We are promised Jesus will be with us in time of need, give to us all that we need, and one day put an end to our needs. Until then, we wait. But, because of Christmas, we wait in an abounding hope that the best is yet to come.

The birth of Jesus was the earthly beginning of our acquittal. Not guilty. But it happened. Not guilty. But You saw it. Not guilty. But I did it. Not guilty. But I owe for it. Not guilty. When we repent and believe the gospel, God applies the perfect life of Jesus and the atoning death of Jesus to our record and justifies us. It’s just as if we never sinned and just as if we always obeyed. We who really are guilty of sin are set free. Free from shame. Free from judgement. Free from punishment. Instead, we get every blessing found in knowing God. Rejoice today, for Jesus has the final word for those who are trusting in Him: Not guilty.