Daily Devotional for Tuesday November 13, 2012

Christmas is Just Six Weeks from Today

(Luke 2:1-20)

***ASK BILL: Pastor Bill, there has been a lot of talk about how December 21, 2012 as predicted by the Mayans is supposed to be a cataclysmic event or the beginning of the end. What are your thoughts about that?

ANSWER: Just like when Harold Camping of Family Radio declared a certain date to be the end of the world, there is no difference when the Mayans or anyone else makes such a claim. IT IS FALSE! The Bible clearly states that ONLY GOD knows the date and time. It is clear based on the Biblical passages speaking about the last days we are at that place, but as to the exact day and time, only God knows and if anyone claims they do...RUN FROM THEM!!!

In case you haven't checked the calendar, 6 weeks from today is Christmas. Oh yes, I said Christmas. The Holy Spirit led me to write this message today so that you can start preparing to make this the best and most blessed Christmas of your entire life. It is important for me to share this special word with you now, well enough in advance of all that goes on during the Christmas season, so that you can take the steps necessary to insure this Christmas is the most special Christmas of your life.

A week from Thursday is Thanksgiving, and now the Christmas season is in full swing. There will be the parties, the shopping, the food, the family and friends, the events at church, all leading up to Christmas morning. For most people, it is a very busy time of the year and no doubt Jesus will be mentioned and thought of during all of the hustle and bustle, but sadly not the real focus or attention. We get so busy "doing Christmas" that along the way we tend to lose sight of what this special time of year is really all about.

For most people every Christmas is about the same. You attend the various parties at work, with people you may share a hobby with, those in your neighborhood. Of course, there is always the shopping. Some start before Thanksgiving, others will be shopping for Christmas the day after, and there are always those who do their shopping on December 24th. One of the highlights of the Christmas season is all the good food. It seems everywhere you go during this time of year there is an endless supply of scrumptious food to indulge in.

Obviously, Christmas would not be Christmas without family and friends. Each year it is the time of year for families to get together, for some the only time of the year they do, and catch up on each other's lives. We often see those dear friends from the past during Christmas and have the opportunity to spend some time with them. No doubt one of the things that makes Christmas so special each year is being with our family and friends. Then there are the Christmas events at church. The great Christmas carols we sing during December, the Christmas cantatas, pageants, and plays every year. Those events at our church help to bring our hearts and minds back to the focus of what this season is really all about.

Christmas morning is always a special time in most homes. We are surrounded by our closest family members, enjoying special food, sharing presents, reliving the memories of Christmases past and making new memories. Yes, the parties, the presents, the food, the family and friends, the activities at church all make each Christmas a very special time of the year in our lives, even though most people do pretty much the exact same things each Christmas season.

That is why this Christmas I want to challenge you to make it the most blessed Christmas of your life ever. There is nothing wrong with the parties, and the presents, and the food ( just be prepared for all of the hours in the gym during January), being with family and friends, enjoying the activities at your church. The problem is that we get so busy in all of the activities of the Christmas season we tend to forget or not put enough emphasis on what this time of year is all about, and that is the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Sadly, it is easy to lose sight of Jesus in the midst of all that is going on in our lives and I want to help you make sure that doesn't happen this Christmas.

I love you and care about you so much. I understand we ALL know the meaning of Christmas. The problem is we have heard the story of Christ's birth so many times and we know in our head that Christmas is about Jesus, that we really don't take the time we should each day during the Christmas season to let it sink into our hearts and get the full impact of the incredible miracle Christmas is.

This Christmas, I want to make sure that you stay focused each day in December on Jesus. This Christmas, I want to make sure that every day in December you are focused on the Lord and what really happened that first Christmas to change human history forever. I want to help you keep CHRIST in your Christmas so that it is the best and most blessed Christmas of your entire life!!!

In His love and service, Your friend and brother in Christ,

Bill Keller