Claiming the True Colors of Christmas

Claiming the True Colors of Christmas

I love the season of Advent. But I detest the commercializing of the season of Christmas. I hate the lies we are tried to make to believe.  I hate the lies that try to take away the real meaning of Christmas, the lies that try to take away the true colors of Christmas.Here’s an example: a department store add stating boldly: “Luxury belongs to Christmas!” WHAT? Christmas has NOTHING to do with luxury. The birth of Jesus was as far from luxury as possible! They did not have room in an inn. Jesus was born in a stable and was put in a manger. Luxury simply does not belong to Christmas.

Even Jesus the Messiah is not a luxury item, he is a necessity for us. Joseph Parker puts it this way: “Humans need Jesus Christ as a necessity and not as a luxury. You may be pleased to have flowers, but you must have bread…. Jesus is not a phenomenon, He is bread: Christ is not a curiosity, He is water. As surely as we cannot live without bread, we cannot live truly without Christ: If we know not Christ we are not living, our movement is a mechanical flutter, our pulse is but the stirring of an animal life.”

We simply just need Jesus. Blessedly the way to salvation is not to be bought by only the rich. The way to salvation is not to be earned by our works. The way to salvation is a free gift from God: Jesus.

Earlier generations didn’t know this hidden plan that God has now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets through the Spirit. This plan is that the Gentiles would be coheirs and parts of the same body, and that they would share with the Jews in the promises of God in Christ Jesus through the gospel. (Eph. 3: 5-6, CEB)

Only in Jesus we find…
….the true colors of Christmas,
….the depth of God’s love for us,
….the height of God’s mercy,
….the breadth of God’s grace,
….the length of God’s loving-kindness,
and the true colors of Life.

This is why I kneel before the Father. Every ethnic group in heaven or on earth is recognized by him. I ask that he will strengthen you in your inner selves from the riches of his glory through the Spirit. I ask that Christ will live in your hearts through faith. As a result of having strong roots in love, I ask that you’ll have the power to grasp love’s width and length, height and depth, together with all believers. I ask that you’ll know the love of Christ that is beyond knowledge so that you will be filled entirely with the fullness of God. Glory to God, who is able to do far beyond all that we could ask or imagine by his power at work within us; glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus for all generations, forever and always. Amen. (Eph. 3: 14-21, CEB)

 

Gracious God,
Thank you that Jesus is not a luxury item
that only rich could afford.
Thank you for coming for each and everyone of us.
Thank you for loving us so much
that you gave your only son for us
so we could be made right with you
and have life and more life in you.
Prepare us for your coming.
Enable us to understand
the true colors of life.
Be our everything.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: What kind of lies have you detected about Christmas? How do you claim the true colors of Christmas?

Be blessed, fellow pilgrim, on your advent journey!

Image courtesy of Jeff Boriss. This post is refurbished from last year. Linking up today with  What’s on Your Heart Tuesdays & Soli Deo Gloria.

6 thoughts on “Claiming the True Colors of Christmas

  1. Much of the true meaning of Christmas has been taken away. Every time I think of the true story of Christ birth, I amazed out the humble beginnings He chose to make His entrance into the world. He made Himself accessible to all of us. Found you via Shanda’s blog. Hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas

    1. Thank you for your thoughtful comment! It is wonderful that Jesus came humbly into the world and is not (only) the king of the rich and mighty. But Jesus is the King of common people, everyone who wants to open his heart for his grace. That’s worth of celebrating! Abundant blessings to you as you prepare your heart for Jesus!

  2. Christmas can be a frustrating time of year for me. I wrote about my frustrations last year. At Christmas, we celebrate the birth of our Savior by lavishing our families with expensive gifts. Imagine if we used that money instead on the poor or those who have never heard! 
    Every year, it is a challenge for us to keep the focus on Christ at Christmas so that our children will grow up understanding its true meaning. We have to be very deliberate in how we celebrate. There is so much joy in the birth of Christ–it’s sad that we ever felt the need to commercialize it!

    1. Thank you, Jennifer, for your comment! Yes, we need to be careful not to forget Jesus in the middle of our Christmas celebrations! Imagine if we used even half the money on the poor! I agree that families with children have to be very deliberate how we celebrate Christmas! Abundant blessings to you and yours as you welcome Jesus into your world this Christmas!

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