Survival Guide to Christmas

WOW! It is that time of year again!

CHRISTMAS ALL OVER AGAIN!!

The older I get the more I experience De Ja Vu!

Christmas might be the MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR --- but it can also be the most hectic, stressful and for some even depressing time of the year!!!

This morning I want to talk about APPLYING a SURVIVAL GUIDE TO CHRISTMAS!!!!

It is not going to talk about finding the best deals, maximizing your time, or how to decorate --- but rather

MAKE TRUTH YOUR FOCUS

Making TRUTH our focus at Christmas is the only way to survive this season and allow it to have REAL MEANING!

John 8:32 NLT

32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Who is ready for some truth to APPLY!!!

1. Make Jesus the FOCUS

I know, it is kind of like making truth your focus...

It is making truth your focus, but it is also the number one and single most important way to make Christmas meaningful --- by keeping JESUS FRONT AND CENTER!!!

Hebrews 10:1 NLT

1 The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship.

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Hebrews 12:2 NLT

2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

KEEPING OUR EYES ON CHRIST...

Remember - Jesus- the reason for the season!!!!

Christmas celebrations began due to the Catholic Church having a calendar of teaching --- In December the focus was placed on remembering - not the baby in a manger, but the FIRST ADVENT or coming of Christ!!!

Thus the Christ Mass - of the first coming of the Lord to earth was held annually and became a focus.

Many of our other traditions come from pagan religions and cultural celebrations (usually based in false religions) held in different nations or cultural groups. (Bringing evergreen inside during the cold, the yule log, celebration of lights in the darkest months of the year, etc.)

In addition the Madonna and Christ child was adopted from an the worship of an ancient sun goddess and her child when the Roman Empire Christianized the world...

Later - folklore and traditions developed such as Santa Claus, Krampus, and even Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer

Does this mean we cannot have a little fun with these - NO — but the problem is

WE ARE NOW CELEBRATING A HOLY DAY without the HOLY!!!! We have begun to celebrate the celebrations rather than the REASON for the celebration… and when we do that things actually become EMPTY!!!!

EMPTY because the purpose behind everything has become lost!

Romans 1:25 NLT

25 They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.

Have we done this with Christmas??? Traded the truth about the FIRST COMING OF GOD in the person of CHRIST to the earth for all the celebrations that evolved around it????

There is no hope in lights!

There is no peace in gift giving!

There is no lasting joy in Santa!

There is no eternal life in Yule Logs!

But in JESUS CHRIST there is all the ABOVE!!!!

If we MAKE TRUTH ---

John 14:6 NLT

6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

OUR FOCUS

The HOLY day will be kept HOLY and the purpose will be fulfilled, and the JOY, PEACE, HOPE, ETERNAL LIFE that comes from CHRIST will become the blessing of the season!!! A blessing that can help us endure everything else that comes along with it!

GOD COMING TO EARTH in the PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST - to identify with HUMANKIND and BECOME THE SACRIFICE for our SINS to SAVE THE WORLD!!!! --- THIS IS THE FIRST ADVENT ---- THIS IS WHAT WE ARE CELEBRATING!

John 1:1 NLT

1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:1–14 NLT

1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. 6 God sent a man, John the Baptist, 7 to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 8 John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. 9 The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. 14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

2. Use Wise Stewardship

Perhaps the biggest deception of the Christmas season is the materialism that rocks our world!!!

Retailers make it their goal to flood your email, mailbox, and tv screen with advertising and announcements of the best deals and ways to spend money that we do not possess!

We buy into that.

We thing that our kids will not love us without flooding them with gifts, and that our how much we love others is measured by the size of that gift!

The only gift that truly matters is the gift of salvation brought to us by CHRIST in HIS COMING to EARTH --- there it is again - Make truth your focus!!!

We place so much value on cost and worth and the pressure to give is so great at Christmas. We even evaluate others love for us by the same.

Interestingly, it is the gift of the heart that matters most. Thoughtful things done for others even if they cost nothing.

Proverbs recognizes our humanity when it comes to gifts...

Proverbs 18:16 NLT

16 Giving a gift can open doors; it gives access to important people!

Proverbs 19:6 NLT

6 Many seek favors from a ruler; Everyone is the friend of a person who gives gifts!

Prov

Proverbs 21:14 NLT

14 A secret gift calms anger; a bribe under the table pacifies fury.

The reality of human mindset can be staggering, depressing and frustrating.

The Lord wants us to be WISE STEWARDS of what He has given to us.

Luke 12:42 NLT

42 And the Lord replied, “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them.

It is the one who manages well their house!

IF you don’t have the money for it -you should not go into debt for it!!!

Debt exists - the Bible speaks about it…

People were taken away as slaves when debts could not be paid, and the year of Jubilee was about releasing people from debt.

For some things like a home or property where we reside - debt may be necessary -

For a Christmas gift???

Does God want us to start our NEW YEAR not knowing how to pay the bills because we did not manage our houses wisely during December???

I highly recommend that as an individual, couple, or family you set a reasonable budget that is within your means to go toward gift giving, special meals, and even your travel to family on the holidays. THEN MAKE NO APOLOGIES! Enjoy what is done with wisdom and be free from the “UNMENTIONED EXPECTATIONS”

If a gift from the heart is not sufficient than it is not needed!!!

Years ago I heard some family members talk down ‘token gifts” — they were all well off and had all they needed and did not want to have to provide the “token” gift - and saw no value in it.

The issue with that is a gift regardless of size, cost, etc should never be given out of obligation but out of love and desire!

Likewise, all gifts have value — some of my most useful gifts have been the proverbial “token” gift! They served purpose and made life a little easier.

We need to enact

2 Corinthians 9:7 NLT

7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”

This verse was given in reference to offerings/gifts given to help others in need - not our tithes to the Lord that we bring. and it is a great picture of how we should steward our giving at Christmas!

3. Adjust Relational Expectations

Perhaps one of the biggest sources of depression and struggle at Christmas is disappointment from relationships.

That loved one that does not come to visit or does not remember to call or write or give.

Feeling ignored at the family gathering.

Disunity or disagreement in social settings.

Feeling left out!

Often this is because we have high expectations of what it should be like - after all - its Christmas!

It is the time of year everyone is supposed to be nice and loving and if I matter they should show it!!!

What we don’t realize is that this is very counter intuitive to who we are in Christ!

Philippians 2:4–6 NLT

4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.

Jesus gave up HIS equality with God when He came to earth as a man! He did not cling to His right as Creator, Lord, Sovereign, etc.

He took on the form of a servant ---

At Christmas may we allow our focus to be to SERVE LIKE CHRIST SERVED rather than to be served!

Again - Make Truth Your FOCUS!

And not serving so we may demand it of others --- Jesus did not die for us because we deserved it!

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE is love without expectations! So, let’s stop placing expectations whether good or bad upon those around us. Family, friends, spouses, kids, etc.

Don’t give a gift with expectation of reaction, appreciation or reciprocation in return.

If we look at the season as a season to give of ourselves with nothing in return, than we will survive unmet expectations all the more!

4. Be an Ambassador for Christ

Like it or not, we are His ambassadors if we are His children!!!

That means something ---- above all else - how we behave, interact, treat others, and what we do at the Company Christmas party is ALWAYS A REFLECTION ON CHRIST IN US!!!

2 Corinthians 5:20 NLT

20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”

If you struggle with particular temptations that may come upon you this holiday season — MEMORIZE THIS SCRIPTURE!

Often we have to be environment demanded by employers and family members that we fear due to the temptations.

If we remember that we REPRESENT CHRIST

- EVERYDAY

- EVERY WHERE

- EVERY SITUATION

Than we will remind ourselves to ACT ACCORDINGLY!!!

IF nothing else - it can keep us out of trouble and in addition show what Christ has done in us to others!!!!

CONCLUSION

This Christmas - don’t just SURVIVE --- THRIVE

MAKE TRUTH YOUR FOCUS!

1. Keep your eyes set on Jesus - this is all about HIM and not us!!! Keep Him at the center of all we do so we do not become swallowed up in the traditions of men, but rather enjoy the celebration of His coming to earth to save us!

2. Be a WISE STEWARD of what God has entrusted to you. Make a plan, purpose it in your heart and be a cheerful giver.

3. Adjust relational expectations and put on the servant attitude of Christ. Choose to be Christ toward others with no expectation in return.

4. Remember you are Christ Ambassador - may representing Christ strengthen in you in any temptation to stand strong for Jesus!