Is it the day 25th December?
Is it Father Christmas (Santa Claus, St Nicolaus)?
Is it the gifts we give and receive?
Is it Christmas trees, decorations, and lights?
Is it Carols?
Is it the food and family gathering?
Is it the holiday and freedom for a moment from work?
Is it the nativity scene of Mary, Joseph, Stable, Angels, Shepherds and Wise Men, and manger with a baby?
Ja-Nee! When looked at closely everything about Christmas has one thing in common, it once served a different purpose, some even an opposite purpose to Christmas.
So much of our Christmas traditions have pagan origins. This makes Christmas – Christmas.
Things which once served a different purpose now serves Christ. This is even true on a personal level, I once celebrated Christmas for it was indeed a wonderful time of the year, the gifts, food, songs and attending church services still fill me with many happy memories, but one Christmas stands out in my memory, Christmas of 1979, for that is the year Christ became the centre of this life, a life that had thus far served different purposes.
So my message to you this Christmas is: Enjoy all that is to enjoy about the season, even appreciate the pain that might arise from not being able to enjoy what your heart truly wants to enjoy. But to get the most out of Christmas, make Jesus Christ the centre of your life, let Jesus Christ (not only the baby in the manger) transform everything: Let everything about Christmas be cantered on Jesus Christ, let everything in your life be cantered on Jesus Christ. Whatever purpose things served before, let them now serve Jesus Christ. Have a truly blessed Christmas.
Love
Casper de Villiers
Methodist Church Margate/Shelly Beach
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