The True Meaning of Christmas

Beloved, I don’t usually pause during my series of letters, but the birthday of our Savior warrants the attention. I want to write briefly about “The True Meaning of Christmas.” I will continue our series on “The Hiding Place from the Wind” next week!

Precious Ones, the true meaning of Christmas has nothing to do with receiving, but everything to do with giving. David prophesied about the day when Christ Jesus would enter into this world, and what His mission would be. “Then said I [God], Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. I have preached righteousness in the great congregation…I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation…” (Psalm 40:7-10). Beloved, let us now fast-forward to the time of the manifestation of Jesus Christ. When Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist, saw Him, he said, “…Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). We learn from this that Jesus was born to give, not to receive (at this time). Even before Mary’s delivery, Gabriel the archangel told her that Jesus would “…save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

Chosen Ones, this teaches us that the true Christmas scripture is not Matthew 2:11, where we read that “…when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.” Notice that those gifts must have been for Mary and Joseph because Jesus, as a baby, could not benefit from the gold and spices. However, the scripture that reflects the true purpose of Christ’s birth and celebration (Christmas), is Matthew 25:34-40, which says, “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

So, Children of God, the true meaning of Christmas that rewards and reaps eternal life is TO GIVE “inasmuch” as Christ gives to you. We give not according to the standards of men, but by Jesus’ standard. Don’t bring gifts unto Christ that he cannot use! Don’t bring him “frankincense and myrrh.” Bring Him a heart of charity toward your brothers and sisters in Christ!

I love you all SO very much.
Have a Blessed Christmas and an Anointed New Year.
In His Love,

Pastor William L. McCoy