Most kids can sing you every lyric to Here Comes Santa Claus and Frosty the Snowman … but do they know ... Away in a Manger?
Who is telling our children and grandchildren that Christmas is the celebration of the birth of God’s only Son?
When Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem, they went to fulfill a required journey by Rome – to pay their taxes! While there, “the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”
Luke 2:4-7
The world has so diluted the reality of Christmas, that many families put Jesus in the same category as Frosty the Snowman and Santa Claus. To them they are ALL … FICTIONAL CHARACTERS!
Some of our kids really think that a drummer boy showed up at the manger.
Who will tell them that God needed someone to take our place?
In our town, Wal-Mart was displaying Christmas decorations and products for Christmas before October ended. Through all of December, we have FM Stations playing Christmas Music 24 hours a day. Problem is, they are playing all kinds of Holiday music. Frosty is a fun song … but he runs away and melts, the little drummer boy grows up & joins a rock band … then dies from an overdose.
Here’s their story:
Santa gives us toys, ... IF we are good, … IF we are bad, we get coal or switches!
Here’s the REAL Story:
But “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:17
You can deck the Halls with boughs of holly,
but ....
- without JESUS there is NO Celebration,
- without JESUS there is NO Peace!
He is the JOY that God gives to the World.
He is the PEACE that everyman longs for.
There are still real Christmas Songs to sing:
Joy to the World the LORD is Come!
Let Heaven and nature SING!
Oh Holy Night!
Who will tell our kids the TRUTH?
Santa Claus is fun, Frosty is cute, and the Little Drummer Boy and Rudolph have lessons to teach us. Yes, sleigh rides and jingle bells are exciting.
But only JESUS made a way …
NO we must make it very plain: He made the ONLY WAY for us to get to Heaven.
- SIN separates us from a Holy God.
- Religion is man seeking God. There are many religions.
- Jesus came to connect us back to the Father. (God seeking MAN!)
“In the beginning was the Word (JESUS) and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.” John 1:1-2
"He was in the world, and though the world was made by Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God." John 1:10-12
This is a story that MUST be told!
There is NO other way to Heaven.
There is NO other name whereby men can be saved.
The Angel met with Mary and told her the news –
“You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” Luke 1:31-33
Sugarplum fairies may dance in your head … but that's because there’s too much ambrosia in your tummy! And there will be candy in your stocking because someone wants to keep the Santa legend alive.
But JESUS is no fictional character!
Who will tell our kids HIS STORY?
Don’t let the fun of Christmas overshadow the TRUTH of who He is.
Isaiah the prophet wrote about Him, hundreds of years before His birth.
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be upon his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
YOU are leaving a memory with every Christmas you celebrate.
What is the story you are telling?
Who do your kids believe in?
Sing the songs that tell the story!
Celebrate the birthday of the KING of KINGS!
And MERRY CHRISTMAS to all!
