Christmas was yesterday (or a few days ago), so it’s all over with? You survived THE major holiday of the year. Relieved? A little let down after all the festivities? So now you can put aside all the ‘details’ of this holiday and not think about it for at least 360 days? Is that all that Christmas is?
I believe that the sad response is… yes. Though we are admonished in many ways to ‘keep Christmas the whole year’ – we don’t… or don’t know how. What does keeping Christmas the whole year mean? What is at the core of this counsel? If we strip away the presents, the tinsel and glitter, the food and jollity, etc. what are we left with? Energy. Happiness. Hope. Love extended. Well wishes. And none of those cost a single cent. They do require a mindset of rejoicing and focus, however. Will this describe you… in the middle of July?
Rejoicing and focus? How can we ever live a Christmas the whole year in our hearts without focusing? This behavior must be intentional because typically everything around us is telling us the opposite story and thinking. Rejoicing? Now this can be or become the reason. What do you have to rejoice about? If you think about ‘Who’, then the answer is clear. So what will you do, even if you are the only one, to express the attitude of keeping Christmas year round? How will you rejoice?
And focus? Does this become the foundation of a year round attitude of Christmas?
“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” (Isaiah 9:6-7)
Look at when these words were written – Old Testament! This was a prophecy that would be fulfilled in the New Testament. Galatians 4:4-7, ESV
“But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.”
Look at those words. The promise was given in Isaiah and fulfilled and reported in the Gospels. The words in Galatians should cause us all to be in a state of continual rejoicing and focus. These words are worth keeping in our hearts and minds and expressing in our actions. We can live Christmas 365 days a year!
