“The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.”
Stephen Covey
So what exactly is the “main thing”? We are rapidly approaching Christmas. Many Christians and non-Christians will celebrate Christmas but the focus will be far different for these two groups.
For the Christian the focus is on remembering the blessings of Christ’s birth. While the Christian might put up a tree and share presents with others, the focus is not on the commercialism of the “Holiday” but more about the Holiness of that day, nearly 2000 years ago, when Jesus was born in that humble setting and placed in a manger.
All too many times people today celebrate Christmas with very little thought to the real meaning of the celebration. Christmas has become big business and highly commercial. I would even go to say (and this is my personal perspective) that when a large corporation "allows" their employees to say "Merry Christmas" it is not to offer Christ centered blessings but to bring up the "bottom line" or raise their revenue. That is why we find banners with Merry Christmas alongside a display with the jolly guy in the red suit.
Do a bit of research and you will find the satire behind much of what we see today in the business of Christmas.
You will find that Saint Nicolas incrementally became the Santa Clause who was not earth bound but could travel by sleigh because he alone possessed special flying reindeer. He could fly the entire world over in only one night and even before that he could know who was bad or good, who is sleeping, who is awake. Those who brought this tall tale into existence, I imagine, never intended it to take away from Christmas but it can if we lose focus of the truth of God's Word.
You know, it all comes back to the authority of Scripture. If we regard Scripture as a mere sidebar to life and not the guiding factor of how we live we will find that we are off track. So keep the main thing, the main thing!
If you wish to keep the main thing the main thing this year and celebrate Christmas, it’s great to decorate your home and share gifts with your loved ones. I enjoy giving the gifts as well as being thought of to receive them.
But remember that scene offered to us in Scripture:
Luke 2.6,7: 6So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Keeping the focus only on Christ and the gift of His grace that comes through faith in Him is the “Reason for the Season!”
Yes, Virginia, there really is a reason for celebrating Christmas, and that is because God so loved the world that He sent His only Son, so that whoever believes in Him would not perish, but have eternal life.
I wish to share with all who come to read this installment a very Merry Christ centered Holiday Season!
Stephen Covey
So what exactly is the “main thing”? We are rapidly approaching Christmas. Many Christians and non-Christians will celebrate Christmas but the focus will be far different for these two groups.
For the Christian the focus is on remembering the blessings of Christ’s birth. While the Christian might put up a tree and share presents with others, the focus is not on the commercialism of the “Holiday” but more about the Holiness of that day, nearly 2000 years ago, when Jesus was born in that humble setting and placed in a manger.
All too many times people today celebrate Christmas with very little thought to the real meaning of the celebration. Christmas has become big business and highly commercial. I would even go to say (and this is my personal perspective) that when a large corporation "allows" their employees to say "Merry Christmas" it is not to offer Christ centered blessings but to bring up the "bottom line" or raise their revenue. That is why we find banners with Merry Christmas alongside a display with the jolly guy in the red suit.
Do a bit of research and you will find the satire behind much of what we see today in the business of Christmas.
You will find that Saint Nicolas incrementally became the Santa Clause who was not earth bound but could travel by sleigh because he alone possessed special flying reindeer. He could fly the entire world over in only one night and even before that he could know who was bad or good, who is sleeping, who is awake. Those who brought this tall tale into existence, I imagine, never intended it to take away from Christmas but it can if we lose focus of the truth of God's Word.
You know, it all comes back to the authority of Scripture. If we regard Scripture as a mere sidebar to life and not the guiding factor of how we live we will find that we are off track. So keep the main thing, the main thing!
If you wish to keep the main thing the main thing this year and celebrate Christmas, it’s great to decorate your home and share gifts with your loved ones. I enjoy giving the gifts as well as being thought of to receive them.
But remember that scene offered to us in Scripture:
Luke 2.6,7: 6So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Keeping the focus only on Christ and the gift of His grace that comes through faith in Him is the “Reason for the Season!”
Yes, Virginia, there really is a reason for celebrating Christmas, and that is because God so loved the world that He sent His only Son, so that whoever believes in Him would not perish, but have eternal life.
I wish to share with all who come to read this installment a very Merry Christ centered Holiday Season!
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