IMMANUEL

It’s that time of year again when the world celebrates Christmas. Most families will give gifts to each other and come together for a Christmas meal, and unfortunately, the real reason for the season is often overlooked. Supporting this fact is a recent statement I heard a clergy say, “If Christmas happens to falls on a Sunday, church attendance will be down.”

In my blog “THE REASON FOR THE SEASON” which I posted on December 19, 2015, I shared this information, “Many biblical scholars have questioned the exact birth date of Jesus; however, the first celebrations of Christ’s birth were initially grouped with Epiphany, one of the earliest feasts of the Christian church which was held on January 6. The first recorded date of Christmas being celebrated on December 25th was in 336AD, during the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine. A few years later, Pope Julius I officially declared that the birth of Jesus would be celebrated on December 25th.”

Libraryspot.com states more than160 countries celebrate Christmas. A few countries refer to the holiday as Family Day, while some countries like Pakistan and Jordan designate December 25th as an official holiday only for Christians. Furthermore, I assume the name “Family Day” was given because more emphasis is placed on family gatherings than on the birth of Jesus.

For true believers the actual birth date is not important, what is important is that the prophecies found in Isaiah 7:14, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign: behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” and Isaiah 9:6, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be on his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” happened as recorded in Luke 2:10-14, “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.”

Though others may forget and some overlook, don’t allow yourself to be included in that number. Remember, that God so loved us that He sent His Son to be born a citizen of earth and through Jesus’s death to redeem us back into right relationship with God. Jesus is forever our Immanuel, our designated King of this earth and we can celebrate Him not only December 25 but every day of our lives.