It’s Christmas again. What’s not to like about Christmas. Lots of family that we don’t get to see everyday. Spending lots of money on gifts. All the decorations, parades and pictures with Santa. Big holiday feasts. Oh yeah, and there’s the baby Jesus. The whole meaning behind the Christmas celebration. I think the reason that Christmas is still “politically correct” is because of the baby Jesus. EVERYONE LOVES A BABY. Right?! I mean, really, what kind of effect can one tiny infant baby have on the earth?
Well let’s see…
Jesus’ birth marks the beginning of a new calendar. Before Him was BC, after His birth is AD. That in itself is a mark left on history that will be there for every generation hereafter to note.
If you note that before Christ, years were recognized by the phrase, “The year of our King”. Check out the old testament of the Bible.
“…It happened in the fifth year of king Rehoboam…” 1Kings 14:25 or “…In the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab king of Israel…” 1Kings 8:16. and so on….
But after Christ birth we come to a brand new timeline titled Anno Domini (abbreviated as AD or A.D., sometimes found in the form Anno Domine). The term Anno Domini is Midevil Latin, translated as In the year of (the/Our) Lord. It is sometimes specified more fully as Anno Domini Nostri Iesu (Jesu) Christi (“In the Year of Our Lord Jesus Christ”).
Then we have the recorded birth of Christ. My favorite is from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 2. You know, the same one Linus reads in “A Charlie Brown Christmas”.
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman
world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And
everyone went to his own town to register.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. He went there to register
with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While
they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her
firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because
there was no room for them in the inn.And there were shepherds
living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel
of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and
they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all
the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to
you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”Suddenly a great
company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,“Glory to God in the
highest,and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”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.”So they hurried off and
found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
The shepherds were not at all astonished at a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in the manger. These were poor shepherds who slept outdoors most of the time to keep night watch on their flocks. They lived outdoors. They fully related to a babe in a manger. And at first sight of their King Jesus they probably thought, “Look, He’s one of us! Born just like one of our children, laying on the hay just like our babies when they are born. He’s really just like us.” And they worshipped Him who came to save the world.
I owe my life to God! Without this baby being born, I would still be distant from my Creator. And while isolated away from God I am not a good person at all! Every whim that the Devil comes up with I am subject to follow. Be it drugs, alcohol, sexual perversions, pornography, low self-esteem, cursing, fighting, hatred, hostility, jealousy, greed, stealing, wicked thoughts, and the list goes on and on. But now that the baby came to earth, God incarnate in the flesh, who lived here on earth, was tempted just as we are but remained faultless and sinless, was crucified on the cross, died a human death and was raised on the third day from the grave to ascend to Heaven, I am empowered with the gift of salvation and full of the Holy Spirit so that I have the choice to resist Satan and his schemes.
If you are tired of being tired, weary of doing what you know is wrong but just can’t seem to stop, drained of energy to do what is right, turn to Jesus! This Child was born for you as well as for me! Just sincerely ask God to forgive you of all your sins, accept his forgiveness that Christ died for and invite Jesus into your heart. It’s that easy! God loves you more than anything and wants to offer you eternal life with Him and a life here on earth free of drugs, alcohol, pornography and all other addictions!If you have just accepted Christ into your life please seek out a church, pastor or Christian counselor that can help you along your newfound road. Sobriety is a new journey for some of us and we need all the direction we can get!
If you don’t know where to turn please leave me a comment and I will direct you in the right direction!
God bless each and every one of you who share this struggle and my prayer for you is to accept Christ into you heart and your continued sobriety!
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