Why Christmas?

It's Christmas Eve! Now is the time to frantically clean your house, go out and buy all those last minute presents, and wrap up everything you can with that weird paper you just found in the cupboard. In the midst of all the holiday madness, I thought I'd bring it back to where Christmas all began, with the Christmas Story.

Luke 2:1-20New International Version (NIV)

The Birth of Jesus

2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Full Credit to Bible Gateway

So there it is. The birth of Jesus. That was the very first Christmas. While the birth is 100% important, being the basis of most of Christianity, the part I want to stress is the giving. Whatever religion, nationality, or age you are I want you to remember this Christmas that it is about giving, not getting.

That very first Christmas God gave to us. He gave his son. It wasn't about us, about receiving. It was about God. He loves us so much, he gave us his son. Possibly the most famous verse in the bible is John 3:16, and it says 'God so loved the world that he gave his only son, so that whoever believed in him could have eternal life.' That's why giving is so important.

But we get so tied up in getting stuff. We write lists, and we read blogs to get ideas for our lists, and we're always in this cycle of want. want. want. But at the end of the day, it's just stuff. It's not the meaning of Christmas.

So remember the importance of giving this Christmas, and have a really wonderful time with your family and friends xoxo