Christmas Spirit

“It has been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the LORD’S Messiah.” Luke 2:26

How many times have you heard the Christmas story? Many of us have probably heard it at least once a year for our entire lives. It is one of those biblical truths that, if we aren’t careful, can become so familiar that we fail to recognize its majesty. Although Christmas officially has its season, there is no reason we should not be in the “Christmas spirit” all year long – especially as believers in Jesus Christ. The Gospel of Luke tells us the story of an old man named Simeon who spent his whole life in the Christmas spirit as he waited on the Lord’s promised Messiah.

“Messiah” is the word for “Christ.” Christ is not a name, but a title. This little baby didn’t just have a name; He had a title. He had a human name, Jesus, but a divine title, Christ. Jesus is the Messiah of the Jewish race – the One who had been prophesied of and promised for thousands of years.

We remember other people’s birthdays and even have holidays to commemorate certain important people’s birthdays. At Christmas, however, we don’t just celebrate Christ’s birthday, but His very birth itself. Why is that? It is because this was no ordinary birth; and He was no ordinary baby. This was the Lord’s Messiah. This was God in the flesh. This was the child who would bring peace on earth between God and man. Christmas is no ordinary day, because this was no ordinary child.

This child was not just welcomed when He was born; but He was worshiped after He was born. A star shined its heavenly light on the place of His birth. Angels from heaven gave a concert in honor of His birth. Wise men and stargazers traveled hundreds and hundreds of miles over months and years just to kneel before Him and give Him gifts. It is with good reason that we look back at His birth at Christmastime.

I want to challenge you, however, not to reserve your awe and wonder of the Lord’s Messiah for a particular “season.” Choose to live in the Christmas spirit each and every day, knowing that Christ deserves our attention and worship continually, not just at certain times of the year. Let the Christmas season become an overflow of your daily worship of this tiny baby who grew up to save the world.

Dear Lord, I want to continue on living with the Christmas spirit even after Christmas is over. There is so much to be taken and soaked in from this time of year, and I don't want to confine it all to one day. Help me to keep the hope of Christmas in the forefront of my mind and heart year around. In Jesus' name, amen.