Missing Christmas

A Meditation for Christmas Eve 2022


​Why do so many people miss the meaning of Christmas?

  • Busyness (The Innkeeper). 
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6 While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.  – Luke 2:6-7 (NASB)

  • Familiarity (The Religious Leaders)

4 And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he (Herod) inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet. – Matthew 2:4-5 (NASB) 

17 So I say this, and affirm in the Lord, that you are to no longer walk just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their minds, 18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart. – Ephesians 4:17-18 (NASB)
 
  • Fear (King Herod) 

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. – Matthew 2:3 (NASB)  

Some of these people have missed the most important thing in life – they don’t know God. – I Timothy 6:21 (TLB)

How do we make sure that we do NOT miss Christmas this year?

  • STOP filling life with less important things. 

You made my life short, so brief that the time means nothing to you. Human life is but a breath, and it disappears like a shadow. Our struggles are senseless; we store up more and more, without ever knowing who will get it all. – Psalm 39:5-6 (CEV)

  • LOOK closely at why Jesus came in the first place. 

And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.” – Matthew 2:8 (NASB) 

And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. – Jeremiah 29:13 (NASB)

  • LISTEN to the Good News of Christmas.

10 And so the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. – Luke 2:10-11 (NASB)

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly. – John 10:10 (NASB)

For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him. – John 3:17 (NASB)

For a new life at Christmas . . .

STOP!

Christ carried our sins in his body on the cross so we would stop living for sin and start living for what is right. And you are healed because of his wounds. – I Peter 2:24 (NCV) 

LOOK! 

Let all the world look to Me for salvation! For I am God; there is no other. – Isaiah 45:22 (NLT)  

LISTEN!

God reminds us, “I heard your call in the nick of time; The day you needed Me, I was there to help.” – II Corinthians 6:2 (MSG)