Honouring Christmas in Our Hearts All Year

On this day after Christmas, I'm reminded of what Ebenezer Scrooge said after his visit from the Three Spirits, his realization of his sin and then repentance: "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all year," he swore. And he did. Though there was no sequel to The Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens assures us that Scrooge was a changed man (" And it was always said of him that he knew how to keep Christmas well if any man alive possessed the knowledge.") And all because of Christmas.

This year, I want to encourage us to keep Christmas in our hearts. But not because it brings happy memories of loved gifts, scrumptious turkey, or colourful decorations. Because it is a celebration of hope and joy! Hope and joy in the arrival of the promised Messiah, the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ. The God who humbled Himself to the form of a helpless baby in a feeding trough in a stable. The Man who shook our earth to its core with His radical message. The King of kings who became a servant. The awesome Creator who gave Himself into the hands of His creation. The Master who traded splendor and glory for a broken world. The Giver of life who allowed simple men to take away His life. The God who owed us nothing who gave us glory and riches in Him. The Great Victor who conquered sin and death and rose from the grave. The Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. Jesus Christ. He is why we want to keep Christmas in our hearts. So that we can always be celebrating Him. Not the gifts, lights, tree, turkey, or tinsel. Let's celebrate Immanuel, when God came down with us.