Christ mas or Xmas..?

By Dr Stafford Cripps

It's Christmas Once Again   

                                                                                                                                                                                  

Christmas brings thrill & excitement to young & old because it’s a festival of Joy, Light, Peace, Hope and Glad tidings. Christmas reminds us of the greatest gift God has given to mankind when He sent His One and Only Son, His nearest and dearest to this world to suffer and die for my sins, your sins and sins of the whole world. In II Corinthians 9:15 we read – “Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift.” Yes Indescribable gift! Can we describe the personality of Jesus Christ..? He has such a great personality that it requires hundreds of names and titles to describe Him! That’s why when He was born, He was given a very special name – “JESUS” (Luke 1:31) which means – He shall deliver mankind from their sins (Matthew 1:21). He was given 5 star title 750 years before His birth in Isaiah 9:6 – Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and the Prince of peace...

GREATEST GIFT: Our Loving Father has given you and me the greatest Gift, ie His Only begotten Son, Jesus Christ (John 3:16) in spite of knowing the fact that, one day He would be crushed on the Cross of Calvary. In response to this wonderful gift, we should ask a very important question like King David, who asked in Psalm 116:12, “What shall I render in return to the Lord for His great Love and sacrifice..? I am sure every believer would ask this vital question if he or she will personalise the statement recorded in Isaiah 53:5 by confessing – “He was wounded for My (our)transgressions and He was bruised for My (our) iniquities...”

CHRIST WAS BORN ON A MISSION:  Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Lamb of God came down to this planet earth on a mission, not to establish a religion or a kingdom but to establish a relationship (Colossians 1:22) that was broken, when man committed sin. This He accomplished when He died as a supreme sacrifice on the Cross of Calvary where He bought us for a price, not with the corruptible things as silver and gold but with His precious blood (I Peter 1:18). We’ve the privilege and joy of worshipping the Risen Christ (John 11:25) because on the Cross, He did not say – “I AM finished!” But He said – “It Is Finished!” (John 19:30) there by accomplished His Mission.

THE BIG QUESTION: King David, after tasting and experiencing Lord’s love, (Psalm 34:8) asked a very vital question –“O Lord, what shall I give unto Thee in return for Thy great Love and Sacrifice..?” (Psalm 116:12). This Christmas, as you look at the cradle of Baby Jesus, you can also see the shadow of the Cross there! And if you focus your eyes on that old rugged Cross where Jesus Christ was bruised and battered (Isaiah 53:10), you and I will be constrained to ask the question – O my Savior, what shall I give in return to your great love and sacrifice so unique and amazing  that you’ve demonstrated on the Cross of Calvary while I was yet a sinner..? (Romans 5:8).

WHAT’S OUR RESPONSE? This Christmas, if you and I want to celebrate the festival meaningfully, we have to respond as exhorted by St. Paul in Romans 12:1-3 where we read –“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service...”  Yes! Apart from giving our tithes and offerings to our Church and missions generously and cheerfully (II Cor 9:7), let’s surrender ourselves to Him Who loves us by placing Him in the Centre of our physical and spiritual lives. And since we are passing through this world but once, let's pray that our good Lord will fill us with His spirit to be His Ambassadors in this world (II Cor 5:20).

Dearly beloved, now the Big Question!? Are you going to celebrate the Birthday of CHRIST of CHRISTmas or a mere Xmas..? By the way you may ask, what's Xmas? You may be knowing, it's -

X-austing preperations, X-tensive shopping,

X-travagant gifts, X-citing parties,

X-cessive feasting, X-alting Santa but...

X-cluding CHRIST!

Come let's join hands and celebrate CHRISTMAS meaningfully by inviting CHRIST into our Hearts & Homes.