Celebrate The Season
Randall Caselman
3/19/97
Celebrate The Season
The Holiday Season is here! Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years compel us to focus our thoughts on God, His blessings, His coming, new beginnings. Of all the people in the world, we must not let others rob us of the season. December may not be the birthdate of Jesus, but isn’t it time we stop agonizing over dates and seasons and get on with His presence? Think of it,
Immanuel, God with us, God in us. Fantastic! Celebrate!
All too often, in this season, we end up celebrating in the name of self-centered materialism and pleasure, instead of celebrating God’s blessings, His presence in our lives.
Christianity is not a funeral dirge and the church is not a self-righteous country club.
Christianity is a celebration! Read Jesus’ parables on the kingdom. The pearl of great price, the treasure found in a field, the wedding feast, the woman who found her lost coin, the shepherd who finds his one lost sheep, the prodigal son, the great banquet. Kingdom parables which call for a
celebration.
The early church celebrated their Christianity.
All the believers were together and had everything in common. Daily they continued to meet... They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. This is Christianity. This is how to celebrate the season and indeed the whole year. How do we celebrate Christ?
• By placing the needs of others above our own.
• By genuine peaceful togetherness.
• By worshiping, praising God daily through Jesus.
• By being a people of joy, gladness and simplicity.
Christianity is
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Our Christianity is celebrated and demonstrated by the fruit we bear.
Is it possible that Jesus, His coming, His people, His purpose, His commission has been crowded out of our lives this holiday season? If so, what or who has taken His place? Let us regain our focus.
The Purpose Of His Coming. Thou shall call His Name Jesus: For He shall save His people from their sins... I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly. Life at its fullest. celebrate!
The Power Of His Coming.
As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name... You shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free from sin. So, if the Son sets you free, you are free indeed. Indeed!
celebrate!
Our Response To His Coming.
If you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead; you will be saved.... I tell you the truth, unless a man is born again, of water and the spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
Good News. Heaven welcomes sinners. We are sinners, saved by God’s grace! We are forgiven, washed, cleansed, clothed with Jesus through our response to His grace.
For you are all children of God by faith in Jesus Christ. For as many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ (have been clothed) with Christ.... If we walk in the light as He is in the light we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin. celebrate!
The Promise Of His Return.
Why stand here gazing into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into Heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into Heaven... For the Lord Himself will come down from Heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the Archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore, encourage each other with these words.
One of the distinguishing marks of the first century church was their anticipation, their excitement for His coming. They were ready! There can be no genuine joy in this season if we are not ready for His return.
celebrate!!
Christ in you the Hope of Glory. Amen! Joy to the world! The Lord is come. His kingdom can rejoice. That’s us! Celebrate the Holiday Season.
—Randall Caselman
