ANOTHER REASON FOR THE SEASON

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"For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:11 NKJV).
             Have you heard the saying that Christmas comes but once a year? That's because the world has set aside a particular date, December 25 of every year to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ the Saviour of the world. It doesn't matter on which day of the week it falls, leap year or not, Christmas day is Christmas day.  To many Christians, particularly in the western world, it is the greatest day of the year. Even non-christians look forward to the day as a special holiday marked with joy and festivities; there are many who, like Christians, spend their money buying and shooting fire-crackers during the season! My wife and I asked two of our casual workers what a particular December public holiday was. They both said 'Keresimesi' (Christmas in vernacular). But it was not Christmas; it turned out to be Mohammed's birthday which fell on a day close to Christmas, but they didn't know the difference! In our part of the world Christmas means celebrations, felicitations, decorations, visitations, feasting, fireworks, exchanging greetings and gifts, home-coming, church going and generally rejoicing. But why are we rejoicing? What's the reason for celebrating? The Bible says, 'And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men! ' (Luke 2:13-14 NKJV). God was telling us that a great thing of joy had befallen us - Immanuel had come. God had descended among men to save them, and we were being shown how to rejoice on the occasion. Thus the mandate to rejoice at Christmas came from heaven. So let us be merry!
But there is another side to the Christmas coin given us. The angel sent the shepherds to announce the good news of the coming of the Saviour of the world to all people (Luke 2:10-12). So there was another mandate to tell all peoples that Jesus Christ is the Saviour of the world. Christmas is therefore not only about singing, dancing and feasting but also a season to tell the world the reason why Jesus came into the world - to save mankind from the bondage of sin and be reconciled back to God. The Bible says, 'And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: The  Spirit of the Lord  is  upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to  the  poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to  the  captives And recovery of sight to  the  blind, To  set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord " ''(Luke 4:17-19). The Spirit of the Lord was given in us for these same purposes. Christmas is the day to proclaim to all people that the Saviour of the world was born to us! By Western tradition, December 26 is observed as boxing day - a day to box gifts and take to others, especially those who need it. Surely, there is no better gift to package and take to others than the gospel message of salvation. So go out and tell to all peoples: Your Saviour was born on Christmas day!

olusegunisaac2018@gmail.com

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