IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE SAMTSIRHC!

It is not by accident that the picture above is loaded backwards. I did this intentionally because that is how our world views Christmas... BACKWARDS. The way that so many of us celebrate Christmas is so backwards and unbiblical. Keep reading, you will see what I mean. I know that this post may push your buttons a little but it might give you something to think about as well.

THINKING BACKWARDS ABOUT JESUS
I know you have heard this passage many times but read it one more time and this time slowly.

Luke 2:10 (ESV)  And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12  And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14  “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” 

Do you see anything in this passage that could make us think backwards about Jesus? How about verse 12 "you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger"? Sure Christmas is about the birth of Jesus and yes, He was "a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths" but Jesus wasn't just a baby. He was and still is a "Savior" and He is still "Christ the Lord"! So while it is true in one sense, Jesus was a baby who needed to be taken care of like other babies but then on the other side, this baby was and is the Son of God, the Messiah, the Anointed One, He is the Christ.

This Christmas when you see a manger scene, don't underestimate the power of Who He is. He is more than just a baby laying in a feeding trough. This is the King of kings and the Lord of lords! (Revelation 19:16)

THINKING BACKWARDS ABOUT THE GIFTS
If it is Jesus' birthday, and it is the day that we celebrate it, then why are we not giving Him gifts but giving each other gifts instead? I will admit it now and always will, I have been as guilty in this as anyone else... being so focused on the gifts that I was anxious to open my presents. Thankfully, as we get older, we start to understand some things much better than we did when we were younger.

Dave Ramsey said it very well when he said "We buy things we don't need with money we don't have to impress people we don't like.'' 

• How many of us buy way too much stuff for the kids or for our spouse? Or our friends? Instead of getting a simple gift or two, we try to keep up with everyone else.
• How many of us have lots of stuff sitting around that we will never use? That is why retailers are so busy the day of Christmas because so many people are returning their gifts for something that they really want.
• How many of us are going deeper into debt trying to buy gifts for everyone we know?
• Each year, how many people did you buy a gift for only because you felt you had to? If you didn't buy them a gift, they would be offended or what if they bought you a gift and you didn't have one for them?

It's Jesus' birthday, what are you giving Him this year? And there are plenty of other areas that we could look at and discuss how we are thinking backwards with those but let's look at a very important question...

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE KEEP THINKING BACKWARDS?
If we don't stop thinking backwards at Christmas time, we will keep thinking that Christmas is all about us and miss the point of Christmas totally. Look at verse 14 one more time and see what they said, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Two things I want you to see.

1. The glory belongs to God, not us. It is not about how many presents you got, how big your tree was, how many lights are on your house or anything else about you... it is all about God and His wonderful Son, Jesus!
2. The ones who experience real peace are those with whom God is pleased. If we are not pleasing God, we will not have true peace.

I close with a quote that you have heard many times but this time, please read it with a new mind... JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON.