Dear Daily Message Readers,
READ: Matthew 1
Matthew 1:21 (NLT) "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
As a child, it was not unusual for me to discuss with my friends what Santa Claus might bring me for Christmas. I could always count on the stories of St. Nick to drive me on to the joy of Christmas. But as I grew older and learned the truth about Santa Claus, my beliefs about him began to quickly change.
However, a recent survey done by a radio confirms that the belief in Santa Claus is not just held by young children. In fact, there are a good number of working adults who still believe in Santa Claus. The results showed that nine percent of American adults say they really do believe in the jolly old man from the North Pole.
Perhaps that survey is not so surprising when we realize that at no other time of the year do we focus so much attention on a single theme as during the Christmas season. The created character of Santa Claus has become such an essential part of the celebration in our culture because he symbolizes so much, including gift giving and the face behind hundreds of decorations. What many people believe in at Christmas is the spirit of giving.
As admirable as that holiday spirit may be, there is something more life changing to believe in. At Christmas we need to focus on truths like those found exclusively in God's Word:
The truth is that God Himself miraculously became man on that first Christmas morning so He could provide us with the gift of eternal life. And unlike the fictional stories about Santa Claus, His life-story recorded in the Gospels is something to believe in at Christmas and for the rest of your lifeno matter what age you are. Faith Lesson: The only truth that continues forever is that of Jesus Christ (Heb. 13:8).
In Christ,
Darin Smith
READ: Matthew 1
Matthew 1:21 (NLT) "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
As a child, it was not unusual for me to discuss with my friends what Santa Claus might bring me for Christmas. I could always count on the stories of St. Nick to drive me on to the joy of Christmas. But as I grew older and learned the truth about Santa Claus, my beliefs about him began to quickly change.
However, a recent survey done by a radio confirms that the belief in Santa Claus is not just held by young children. In fact, there are a good number of working adults who still believe in Santa Claus. The results showed that nine percent of American adults say they really do believe in the jolly old man from the North Pole.
Perhaps that survey is not so surprising when we realize that at no other time of the year do we focus so much attention on a single theme as during the Christmas season. The created character of Santa Claus has become such an essential part of the celebration in our culture because he symbolizes so much, including gift giving and the face behind hundreds of decorations. What many people believe in at Christmas is the spirit of giving.
As admirable as that holiday spirit may be, there is something more life changing to believe in. At Christmas we need to focus on truths like those found exclusively in God's Word:
- The prophecies of Jesus' birth (Isaiah 7:14).
- The miraculous conception of Christ (Matthew 1:18).
- The mission of Jesus while on earth (Matthew 1:21).
The truth is that God Himself miraculously became man on that first Christmas morning so He could provide us with the gift of eternal life. And unlike the fictional stories about Santa Claus, His life-story recorded in the Gospels is something to believe in at Christmas and for the rest of your lifeno matter what age you are. Faith Lesson: The only truth that continues forever is that of Jesus Christ (Heb. 13:8).
In Christ,
Darin Smith
