THE JOY OF CHRISTMAS

Growing up -- many years ago -- Christmas was my favorite time of the year.

But looking back on those years now, I realize I was cheated out of the real joy of the Christmas season.

Those years were spent attending the Church of Christ, and hearing the teaching that we really didn't know whether Jesus Christ was born in December or not, and that although it was okay to enjoy the season as one of merriment and gift giving, there should be no religious significance placed on it.

In fact, to connect the birth of Jesus Christ to the Christmas season bordered on sin.

Christmas cards were exchanged among church members, but we were carefull to select cards that contained a generic holiday message without mentioning Jesus.

Much like we see in the news media and department stores, schools and malls today. Can't offend someone you know.

But I am offended -- offended big time because I have been deprived all these years of the knowledge that Jesus is the only reason for the Christmas season.

For whatever reason, this is the time of year we have chosen to celebrate His birth. And without that birth there could have been no death on Calvary -- and look where that would have left me today.

I really can't blame anyone but myself though.

If I had taken the time to turn to God's word and seen what the Lord said I would have known better.

In Luke 2:11 we hear the Angel of the Lord saying these words:

"For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savoir, who is Christ the Lord."

Did you get that?

Born a Savior who is Christ the Lord.

Not the baby Jesus who would grow up and be a Savior but the Savior himself.

That babe, wrapped in swaddling clothes and laying in that manger in Bethlehem, was just as much my Savior as that Jesus Christ who hung on Calvary's cross, dying for my sins.

This is why Christmas is a time of joy because it celebrates a holy event -- the day God became man.

And I resent any company, any newspaper, any television station or network, any court and any school system who tries to negate that joy in the event someone might deem it offensive.

May the sheer enormity of the fact that this Baby Jesus is a Savior, engulf you throughout this Christmas season.