The Reason for the Season

If you are a Christian it is easy to sit back and be upset with the current state of Christmas. We lament how "commercialized" it has become with the focus on how many gifts we can purchase for those close to us so they can feel loved and accepted. We can throw fits about how simply saying, "Merry Christmas" has been all, but outlawed because of political correctness and the fear of "offending" somebody. Personally, I have even gone so far as to say that being with family at this time of year isn't necessarily the true meaning of Christmas.  After all, Jesus is the "reason for the season" we say. While all this is true depending on the perspective you take, there is a sense in which Christmas is all about you; the individual. A friend of mine recently posted a meme that simply read, "Actually, you were 'the reason for the season.' Love God." I thought about it for a moment and thought to myself, "That is true!" In fact, Jesus Christ said it the best when He said, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16)." The most famous passage in the Bible is, in many ways, all about you. Who is the world? It is you and everybody else. Do an experiment; take out "the world" in the verse and replace it with "you" or your name and see what you get.  "For God so loved YOU that He gave His only begotten Son. that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." The words of Jesus become a lot more personal and clearer when you read it this way, right? Jesus Christ is the definitely the "reason for the season," but it is His love for you that made it that way.