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People have all kinds of ideas in their heads about God, and these ideas, right or wrong, shape how we view the world and influence how we live in it. When Jesus came to live in this world with us, He made it possible for us to know what God is really like. He displayed God’s character, heart, authority, holiness, righteous anger, grace and love for all to see. In looking at Jesus, a few things we see are… Rebuke, authority and truth for the rebellious and self-righteous. Forgiveness, compassion and peace for the broken and repentant. Joy, hope and strength for the followers and the faithful. Love. For. Everyone.

Many people celebrate Christmas without celebrating Christ. They love the gifts and the decorations and the food and the music and the sentiment and the gatherings and the movies, but they don’t love Jesus. Instead of spending the season adoring Him, they spend the season ignoring Him. That’s why we are sent on a mission to tell the world about Jesus, in hope that they will also see His beauty and majesty and generosity. We are to invite others into our joy and into our worship. So, let us use every gift-exchange and gathering to tell of His excellencies. O come let us adore Him. O come let us proclaim Him.

We try to ignore it. We try to downplay it. We try to run from it. We try to overcome it. But no matter what we do, we cannot change reality: this world is undeniably broken. What we see is the inevitable ruin that comes when we do what is right in our own eyes and do what feels good over what God says is good. We need… A Hero to save the day. A Liberator to set us free. A Healer to make us whole. A Satisfier to make us content. A Ruler to reign over us for good. A Savior to save us from our sins. Rejoice! Christmas announces that new life can be ours through faith. Jesus was born so we can be born again!

How freeing it is to embrace with confidence that God has allowed some things into our lives and other things to be missing from them for a reason that is good. Even if we have no idea what that reason is. Or how it can possibly be for good. God is always doing much more in, for, around and through those who trust Him. Mary trusted. Joseph trusted. We must trust that the unexpected, unexplainable things God has for us are unbelievably good. He knew what He was doing in their lives; He knows what He is doing in our lives. Christmas reminds us that faith in what God says turns our “how can this be” into “let it be.”

From heaven to earth. From a manger to a cross. From suffering to victory. Christmas begins an epic story of how far Jesus would travel, and how hard His journey would be, to bring us back into a loving relationship with our Heavenly Father. His story births our stories where every step is assured because of His faithfulness to do the Father’s will to get us safely home to be with Him, where praise and pleasure never end. Christmas reminds us Who Jesus is, why He came, and where He is taking those who trust Him. Jesus came from heaven to earth to make a way for sinners like you and me to go from earth to heaven.

Christmas is a declaration of war on everything that separates us from God and the life with Him that we were meant to enjoy now and forever. God sent Jesus to disarm and defeat sin, Satan and death so we can be forgiven and freed. Then, He equips us with the armor of God, the Word of God and the Spirit of God to empower us as we fight our battles against temptation, secure in the truth that Jesus has already secured our victory. Until Jesus comes again to give us final deliverance from it, we expect, endure, hate, expose, resist and overcome evil, but we do not give up in our fight against it.

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.