23 Jan Experiencing The Reality of Christmas by Jim Graff
Experiencing The Reality of Christmas
by Pastor Jim Graff
I have to admit, I love special moments. And I would say that, for a man, I am pretty sentimental. I love to slow down and squeeze the special out of something, to create a memory to celebrate.
You know what I’ve realized? God loves special moments too. All throughout the Bible, we see Him creating extraordinary moments that bring a specific message to His people.
As we begin the holiday season, we hear a lot about one of these moments in particular. It’s one in which we celebrate the most special moment in all of history—the birth of Jesus Christ.
But as I look around, I sometimes wonder: do we know what we’re celebrating, really?
See, special moments are usually created as a celebration of some type. Weddings celebrate love, graduations celebrate accomplishments, and birthdays celebrate another year of life. But what does Christmas celebrate?
Some of us may know; some of us may not. Some of us may have head knowledge but not the heart understanding that brings true gratefulness and joy throughout this season.
No matter what level of understanding you have of the true meaning of Christmas is, I encourage you to go deeper. I encourage you to investigate the true, full meaning of the season.
How? By diving into God’s Word. The Gospels are a great place to start, because they tell of this event that so wondrously made its mark on humanity 2,000 years ago. If you’ll ask God to reveal his great love to you, He will. It can truly be a life-changing time for you.
I was a high school student when I started investigating the real meaning of Christmas and even more, the reality of God’s everlasting love. My uncle passed away when I was 15 years old, and after his funeral, I had a lot of questions.
Where would I go when I died? If there is no life after death, what is the purpose of being alive? Is God real? If so, would He really accept me after all I’ve done wrong?
I knew I needed answers. So I began to study until the love that I know today became abundantly clear to me.
This investigating sent me into the most amazing time of discovery I have ever known. Every year, it allows me to celebrate God’s most special moment in a way that is more fulfilling than I ever thought was possible.
This year, in the midst of all the incredible food, Christmas movie reruns and time spent with my family, I again will remember that little high school kid seeking out answers for himself. Not only will I remember it, but I will revisit it, seeking to discover more of God’s love than ever before.
I urge you to do the same. Seek out the message in this special season. Discover the love that God has for you and the gift that He so graciously gave to you in His Son. Whatever level of understanding you have, take it deeper. If you do, Christmas will always be a time to look forward to.