Christmas is celebrated around the world by millions of people. It is a time of great joy. However, for many, if not most, Christmas has lost its meaning. In many homes the Bible is never read and going to church is not even considered. Yet Christmas is faithfully observed each year. For many families it means having a Christmas tree, giving and receiving presents and having a big meal that requires eating left-overs for several days. Children watch the special cartoons and TV programmes about Christmas, but often don’t understand what it’s all about. Commercialism has now become the driving force behind Christmas with the shops and manufacturers trying to sell us the latest and the greatest. Shoppers have been known to fight in the aisles to get the right toy for their child. Families will go into debt for the rest of the year so their children will not be deprived. Yet, it seems the more we have the more we want. Each year the cycle is repeated with no end in sight.

Others see this time of the year as a reason to have a party. There are office parties, Christmas dinners, and family gatherings where great quantities of alcohol are consumed. Here the spirit of Christmas is replaced with another kind of spirit that often does not promote good will and peace. Rather it fosters harsh words and regrets the day after. The Christmas refrain “peace on earth, good will to me” has been replaced with the woeful morning-after moan of “never again”.

But what is the REAL significance of Christmas. Sadly it can easily get buried under the tinsel and wrapping paper. Can you make time to think about it just for a few moments?

Yes, we know that Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ just over 2000 years ago. However there are three fundamental questions we need to ask about the Baby who was laid in a manger at Bethlehem. Firstly, Who is He? Secondly, Why did He come? And thirdly, What has it got to do with me?

The Bible is still the world’s best selling book and we believe its writers were inspired by God.  They tell us that Jesus was no less than God in human form, that God has actually visited this earth and even became one of us (1 Tim 3:15). They tell us that in the Lord Jesus there was no sin (1 John 3:5), but that He came into the world to save sinners (Mat 1:21).  God must love sinners like us so much (John 3:16)!  And we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23). We are sinners in the sight of God and need to be forgiven. When Christ died on the Cross He suffered for our sins that were laid upon Him, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God (1 Pet 3:18). Jesus suffered and died in order to put us right with a sin-hating God.  We need to turn from our sins and trust in Jesus Christ. He can give us peace with God and a new life (Acts 16:31).

If you desire to find new meaning in the birth of Christ this year then please e-mail us at contact@redcargospelhall.org.uk, and we will endeavour to help you.

(A paper copy of the above message is available from the “Revival Movement Association, 2 Clara Street, Belfast, BT5 5GB).