God’s Christmas Card #1: The Reason for the Season
About 2.1 billion Christmas cards are mailed each year in the United States. Each household sends about 55 cards per year and 80% of the cards are mailed by women.
Several years ago I started sending a Christmas e-card to save money that I donate to charity. This year I’ll be sending a donation to Books for Africa (http://www.booksforafrica.org) that will send a large container of 22,000 children’s books to Samfya, Zambia which I visited in June 2010.
The greatest Christmas gift ever given is Jesus Christ who entered the world as an infant and 33 years later died on the Cross for our sins. Just as you must accept a Christmas gift offered to you, you must personally accept Jesus Christ by asking Him to make His sacrificial death apply to you personally.
God not only gave us a Christmas gift, He sent us a Christmas card. Its message simply says, For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). In His card God announced 7 Christmas truths:
1. A child would be born Jesus Christ
2. A son would be given His own Son
3.The government will be on his shoulders He will rule over everything
And He will be called
4. Wonderful Counselor the God of Guidance
5. Mighty God the God of Power
6. Everlasting Father the God of Eternity
7. Prince of Peace the God of Peace
The Church has begun the Advent season which traditionally is the four Sundays before Christmas. The term advent comes from the Latin word adventus meaning coming – the arrival or coming of someone long awaited. Advent is a time to prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus to earth some 21 centuries ago.
Its especially important to prepare our hearts to celebrate Christs birth given the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Somewhere along the line Christmas was hijacked for commercial gain. Christmas is not about the giving and receiving of Christmas cards and presents. Both traditions are part of the celebration, but they are not the primary purpose of our celebration.
In the midst of this hectic season, please take time to reflect on the birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. I suggest you read the Christmas story in Luke 1 and 2.
This next series will help you prepare your heart to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. We will take a look at each of the 7 components of Gods Christmas card delivered to you in Isaiah 9:6.
May your Christmas be Christ-centered, joy-filled, and blessings-rich.
© 2011 Designed to Serve®
Dr. Steve Lake is a retired educator with over 30 years experience in the American public schools. He has served in a variety of position, including teacher, elementary school principal, junior high principal, Associate Superintendent, retired from public education as Superintendent of Schools in Lincolnwood, IL. He has his Bachelors, Masters and Doctor of Education degrees from Northern Illinois University. For the past 25 years Steve has attended and been a member of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington and Northfield, IL. At Willow Creek Steve has taught adult classes on spiritual gifts, life purpose, and spiritual disciplines. He has ministered overseas in Angola, Zambia, Honduras, Germany, and Russia. Steve is co-founder of Designed to Serve, a ministry that equips Christians to live out their unique God-given calling. Steve is married and has two adult children who are married.
