Anti-Christs celebrate Christmas?

Friday 25 December
READ: I Jn. 2:18-25
MORE LESSON: Matt. 21

There have been questions about the definite date of Christmas, whether Jesus was actually born on 25th December or not. Some biblical scholars believe that Jesus must have been born on 18th August. Some say March 28, while others insist it is November 18th. Even the year of His birth is in dispute. Moreover, it is said that Christmas did not begin as a Christian festival, that it was a pagan celebration rebranded a Christian festival by pagan converts and accepted by the Church as an incentive to encourage the pagan idol worshippers to accept Christ. The argument still rages on till today.

However, whatever the argument, two things are not in doubt. One, that Jesus was born is not in doubt and that is great enough. Two, that Christmas is beyond date; it is the celebration of a man, Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Every other story is mere academic rhetoric. If the argument today was that Jesus is a myth, that He was never born or that He never lived, instantly both Christianity and Christmas would collapse. But thank God, Jesus once walked physically on the planet earth, in Jerusalem to be precise. He was born, lived, died, resurrected and ascended to Heaven and is coming back soon.

Unfortunately, there are more people who celebrate Christmas as occasion for fun and festival without any contact with Jesus, the real reason for the season. True, to hate or deny Jesus and still celebrate His birth is the height of disservice to oneself and a terrible satanic deception. Only the ignorant and the unlearned will do that. The Scripture reading of today describes anyone who denies that Jesus is the Christ as an anti-Christ and a liar. So how does an anti-Christ celebrate the Christ he opposes and denies? Unfortunately, there are more anti-Christs celebrating Christmas today.

The question is, Are you an anti-Christ who celebrates Christmas or are you Christ-like? Many of us will hate to be called anti-Christ yet by the simple definition of John the beloved, anybody who denies that Jesus is the Christ is an anti-Christ even if he goes to church and celebrates Christmas with others. I ask you once more, Who are you at Christmas and beyond? Be a true celebrant, invite Jesus into your life today and Christmas will be meaningful for you to celebrate. HAPPY CHRISTMAS

Prayer/Action
* Thank God for the rare gift of Jesus. 
* Give thanks to God for the work of redemption Jesus came to do for mankind. 
* Pray for the countless crowd that will be celebrating Christ today without Christ in their lives, that before the next Christmas they will encounter Christ. 
*Tell someone about Jesus today by word or action.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
As the star of Jesus prevailed over the night and was unstoppable by the worse enemy, so shall my star prevail over my night and I shall be unstoppable in glory, in the name of Jesus.