SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                                  1011

“Being Christmas”

And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. (Luke 1:35)

I work in a big box retail environment and Christmas felt different this year. It seems like it came and went before it ever arrived. Christmas decorations were intermingled with Halloween and Thanksgiving for a period of time. There was a short period of Christmas background music following black Friday and no more. By mid December we were back to a background of aggravating secular rock music as we busied ourselves in replacing everything ‘Christmas’ with next year’s Springtime product set.

As I contemplated my ‘bah humbug’ experience this year, the Lord spoke to my heart about the error of anticipating a Christmas event or season. He challenged me to ‘Be Christmas’ all year long.

What does it mean to ‘Be Christmas’, I asked? Being Christmas is being Christ like was the reply.

Being Christmas is being holy …the child to be born will be called holy….  Being holy is more than seeking moral purity. Being holy is first and foremost being a devoted, set apart, and sanctified servant of the Lord. … it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:16)

Being Christmas is having a no-compromise, high integrity character with grace and truth in proper balance. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…full of grace and truth. (John 1:14) An all grace character is too tolerant and prone to compromise. An all truth character works to hurt and alienate rather than draw people into a personal relationship with Jesus. An example of all truth, no grace is “You’ll be kicking coals in Hell if you don’t repent!” An all grace and no truth approach opens the door to ‘many paths’ to salvation. A balance of grace and truth speaks to the fact that Jesus is the only way to the Father, that He loves you and died for your sins that you may have eternal life, and all we need to do is repent and accept Him as our Lord and Savior.

Being Christmas is to be a peacemaker. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)  Jesus, our Prince of Peace, brings a peace that is different from that of the world. Through Him we have peace with God (forgiveness of sin) and the peace of God (calmness in the midst of trial). Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you… If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. (2 Corinthians 13:11; Romans 12:18)

Being Christmas is to be a Spirit-filled, Born-again Christian working to fulfill the Great Commission. “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor…” (Isaiah 61:1-3); …And Jesus…said to them… Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit… (Matthew 28:16-20)

May you Be Christmas all year long. Merry Christmas!