Julia Melatis – Author

Linus famously quotes Luke 2 when Charlie Brown asks, “What is Christmas all about?”
Yes, Christmas is all about the birth of our Savior, Jesus. But His birth means nothing if there were no cross or empty tomb. Christmas is just the beginning of the plan for our redemption. We celebrate Christmas for at least a month before the day arrives. Some, this year, had trees up on November 1st. Unfortunately, most of the celebrating comes with secular characters, shopping, stress, and parties. Many on December 26th will be taking down their decorations, even though Christmas Day is just the beginning of the 12 days of Christmas.

I know that many do put the baby Jesus at the center of their celebrations. But  when we celebrate a friend or family member’s birthday, do we focus on when they were a baby? No. We celebrate them now. Jesus accomplished His mission to redeem mankind nearly 2000 years ago. He now reigns in Heaven at the right hand of God the Father, and we look forward to His return. That’s why my favorite carol is Joy to the World. It doesn’t just focus on the baby. It also proclaims His now.

Joy to the World by Isaac Watts, 1719

1 Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare Him room,
and heav’n and nature sing,
and heav’n and nature sing,
and heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing.
2 Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ,
while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
3 No more let sins and sorrows grow,
nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
far as the curse is found,
far as the curse is found,
far as, far as the curse is found.
4 He rules the world with truth and grace,
and makes the nations prove
the glories of His righteousness
and wonders of His love,
and wonders of His love,
and wonders, wonders of His love.

I pray everyone would be celebrating the birthday of our Savior, Christ the Lord, not just tonight and tomorrow but through the 12 days of Christmas and the whole new year. May you be full of the joy He gives us through what He has accomplished for us on the cross and with the empty tomb, our redemption, salvation, and eternal life! If you don’t already have a personal relationship with Him, today is a good day to seek Him. You will find Him if you seek Him with all of your heart (Jeremiah 29:13).

The ABCs of Salvation and Christian Living
• Admit you have sinned and cannot save yourself from the consequences of that sin (John 3:16-17, Romans 3:23, 6:23; 1 John 1:8-10)…eternal separation from God in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14-15).
• Believe in Jesus and that He died to make the ultimate sacrifice, once for all, for the sins of the world (Romans 6:10, Hebrews 10:10).
• Choose to accept His gift of salvation,  confessing with your mouth that Jesus is Lord of your life and commit every part of your life to serving Him (Joshua 24:15, Luke 9:23 Matthew 33, 16:24; John 2:3-4, 8:31-32, 23:26, 14:6,15:5-8; Acts 2:38-39; Romans 10:9-10; Ephesians 5:1-21).
• Dedicate your life to the Lord Jesus. Determine to live your life for and in Him. (Psalm 1:1-3, Galatians 2:20, Philippians 1:21)
• Edify/encourage yourself and other believers with the Word of God, with love and compassion, pursuing peace among you (Romans 12:1814:19; Ephesians 4:29-32; 1 Thessalonians 5:11, 15; 1 John 4:21).
•  Follow Jesus’ commands in Word and deed with the power of the Holy Spirit, who now dwells within you.

(John 14:15 & 15:10, Romans 8:9, Galatians 5:16-25)
• Give thanks in all circumstances (Philippians 4:6, 1 Thessalonians 5:18).
• Hide God’s Word in your heart. Read, study, meditate upon it, and memorize key verses (Joshua 1:8, Psalms 1:2,  19:14. 119:1-6, 11, 15, 78, 105, 148; Isaiah 26:3; Philippians 4:8).
• (Be) Kind to one another (Ephesians 4:32).
• Love God above all else and love people as yourself (Matthew 5:43-48, 22:37-40).
• Pray (fervently) without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
• Quiet times spent in God’s presence will let His peace rule in your heart (Psalm 46:10, Mark 1:35, 6:31; Luke 4:42; Colossians 3:15).
•Rejoice always (Philippians 4:4, 1 Thessalonians 5:16).

Merry Christmas and a blessed, hopeful, joy-filled New Year to you all!

Julia

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