MATTHEW 1:18-23 – Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

THEME OF THE DAY. MAKE EVERY DAY CHRISTMAS. It usually begins around Thanksgiving. For some, it might be more; for others, less, but I do think to some measure all of us feel it. It is the joy of Christmas. The special time of the year when the air around us takes on a festive tone. Yes, the world feeds the nostalgic feeling of Christmas, but for the Christian, the truth of Christmas is the reason for the heightened joy we experience. We attend Christmas concerts singing the great hymns of the faith celebrating Christ’s birth. Then we have those special Christmas Eve services where Silent Night often ends the evening filling us with the wonder that God would send His Son to be our Savior. But another thing happens to us during this season called Christmas. It comes to an end. December 26th rolls around, then a New Year, and we may easily fall back into the routines of life and sadly, along with Christmas decorations being boxed away, so does the wonder of today’s scripture – Immanuel, God with us. And it need not be so. Christmas should not be a short season of celebration but a daily reality empowering our lives by the truth of Christmas – God with us. To that end, here are two applications to help us make every day Christmas.

First, the Christ of Christmas long ago is the Christ of Christmas each day of our lives. When Christ entered our world, He did so for three reasons. First, to make God known to us – No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known (John 1:18). Then to die to be our substitute taking away our sins – You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). And both lead to the chief reason for Christmas – that we would know God. Jesus prays to this end, “When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:1-3). Remind yourself daily of the “whys” of Christmas. Such mental discipline will make Christmas a daily celebration of the privilege of knowing God.

Another spiritual help to ensure we don’t keep Christmas on the shelf of our lives until December is to remember as the Christ of Christmas came into the world, the Christ of Christmas is coming back to the world. But this time, not to save His people, but to get His people – When he (Christ) comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed (2 Thessalonians 1:10). Learn to link Christ’s first coming to His Second Coming. In doing so, we will see God’s wonderful redemptive story worked out in history to include our personal interest in His story. And that is really the story of Christmas; the story of all stories to be celebrated and lived daily . . . for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

PRAYER: “Father, help me never to lose the wonder of Your Son coming into the world to reveal You to me.”

QUOTE: “Think often of the Lord Jesus’ birth. It will keep the reality of His Person near to your heart and mind.”