Have a Joyful Christmas

Intro: Christmas should be a time of joy. People tend to multiply activities during this Holiday season and in their busyness they forget the One whose birthday we are celebrating so their joy is not full and complete. They wind up tired, exhausted and depressed when it’s all over.

I. Christmas is about joyously celebrating God’s greatest gift to mankind.  2 Corinthians 9:15 (NKJV)  Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

a. God gave us His best in His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus left the glories of Heaven and came to earth to save mankind from the penalty and power of sin and give us everlasting life. John 1:14 (NKJV)  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John 3:16 (NKJV) For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 1:12-13 (NKJV) ¹² But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: ¹³ who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

II. To have a joyful Christmas Jesus should be the focus of our celebration. Matthew 2:1-2 (NKJV) ¹ Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, ² saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him." Matthew 2:9-11 (NKJV) ⁹ When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.
¹¹ And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

  a. Wise men traveled many miles to find Jesus and they brought their best gifts to Him. They gave Jesus gifts fit for a King. They bowed and worshiped Him. They knew who He was! King of all kings, Savior of the world! As we celebrate Jesus’ birthday He should be the center of all we do. We should worship Him. When we celebrate a person’s birthday we don’t leave them out and give their gifts to someone else, we give gifts to the one whose birthday we are celebrating. 

III. We can give Jesus gifts fit for a King. Deuteronomy 6:5 (NKJV) You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

 a. We can give Him our love, devotion, worship and attention. The gift that Jesus longs for from His children is an awakened soul that thrills to the joy of His presence. He created us to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever. Psalms 16:11 (NKJV) You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Jesus provides the joy, pleasures; our part is to glorify Him by living close to Him and giving Him our hearts in service for Him.

      People sometimes get so involved in doing good things around Christmas that they don’t have time for the One they are celebrating. Christmas can become mechanically. It can become habitual, and routine, done with no thought about Christ. Christ should be the center of all we do not only at Christmas time but all year long. There is an eternal reward awaiting those who live their lives as for the Lord in all they do. Colossians 3:23-24 (NKJV) ²³ And whatever you do, do it heartily, (energetically, enthusiastically) as to the Lord and not to men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

The reward of the inheritance simply explodes the human mind. It stretches far beyond and above all that we can ask or even think. It includes a new body that will be eternal, and a new heavens and earth, and positions of enormous leadership, authority, and service for the Lord Jesus.

Conclusion: Oh what a wonderful Savior whose birthday we will celebrate Dec. 25^th. May this be a time of joy and pleasure as we love Him with all our heart, soul, and strength and may we thrill at the joy of His presence in our lives not only at Christmas but for all time!

Invitation:  No one should even celebrate Christmas if they don’t know Jesus Christ as their Savior. What is there to be joyous about if you don’t know your eternal destination!  Make sure you know Him before you celebrate His birth. Don’t be a hypocrite! If you are not saved then ask Jesus to forgive your sins against God and invite Jesus into your life to take charge of it. Then and only then will you have a very “Merry Christmas.”