Now, when most people are asked that question, they turn over shopping lists and meal plans in their minds. Have they checked everything off their kid's Christmas lists? Have they found the perfect gift for their significant other? Have they gathered everything they need for the perfect Christmas dinner? Have they prepared themselves mentally for prospective family feuds, potentially dangerous and raucous crowds grabbing for the last minute sale items, or possible dinner disasters?
Our commercial and materialistic society tends to raise up generations with the mindset that Christmas revolves around money, sales, toys, clothes, food and decorations. With the current state of the economy, the holidays can be a stressful time. With this in mind, are you ready for Christmas? Or do we need to be reminded, yet again, of the true meaning of this very special holiday?
The true meaning of Christmas is not found in the above paragraphs. Neither is Christmas about family, friends, and loved ones. It is not about giving or receiving. And it is not about settling in the warmth of home with a beautiful winter wonderland lying outside your door. Rather, the true meaning of Christmas is found in sacrifice: the sacrifice of submission, obedience, and humility.
First, there was Mary. Mary, young and betrothed with a full life ahead of her is asked to sacrifice her will for the will of God. She risks her reputation, security, and even her life at a time when adultery was taken very seriously. Despite fear upon entering into the realm of the unknown, Mary humbly submits to the will of God. Where would we be if not for the Mary's of this world?
Then there was Jesus, the ultimate sacrifice. Christ the Son of God sacrificed his will to be born on earth in a humble stable, live a humble life, and die on a humble cross. His perfect submission to the Father resulted in the salvation of the world. Additionally, God suffered the sacrifice of his beloved son for a world that had rejected, betrayed, and hated him.
So, in asking if we are ready for Christmas, what are we really asking? If we remember the true meaning of Christmas, we are asking whether we will let the reality of God's sacrifice to impact us in a way which transforms our minds, consumes our hearts, and changes our lives forever.
So, are you ready for Christmas? Are you ready, in remembering God's sacrifice, to sacrifice your will, life, and dreams for the will that God has planned? Are you ready, in remembering the humility of Christ's birth, to humbly allow God to place you where he can use you best? Finally, are you ready, in remembering the submission of Mary, to submit to the will of God despite how uncomfortable it may be?
Are you ready for Christmas?
