John 1:1 (KJV)
"In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with GOD, and the WORD was GOD."
MERRY CHRISTMAS! How many times do we use these words with no real thought about what we are saying? After considering this, I decided to do a little research into the words "MERRY CHRISTMAS" to see what we all are verbalizing.
To begin with, MERRY needs little explanation. The dictionary defines MERRY as "full of cheerfulness or gaiety; joyous indisposition or SPIRIT". Note the final word, SPIRIT?? (John 4:24??)
The word CHRISTMAS can be more involved. Wikipedia notes that Christmas is "Old English: Crīstesmæsse, meaning "Christ's Mass") is an annual festival commemorating the birth of "Jesus Christ",[6][7]observed most commonly on December 25[4][8][9] as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world."
It is plain to me (and others) that we are talking about the birth of JESUS CHRIST when we talk about Christmas. But what about "MAS"? Where does the term come from that we use to describe the birth of JESUS? Again, Wikipedia defines "MASS" as follows....... "The term "Mass" is derived from the Late Latin word missa (dismissal), a word used in the concluding formula of Mass in Latin: "Ite, missa est" ("Go; it is the dismissal").[6][7] "In antiquity, missa simply meant 'dismissal'. IN CHRISTIAN USAGE, however, it gradually took on a deeper meaning. The word 'dismissal' has come to imply a 'mission'. These few words succinctly express the missionary nature of the Church".
The word CHRISTMAS therefore, for Christians, would seem to indicate "CHRIST'S MISSION"! Are we forwarding "CHRIST'S MISSION" with our lives? Do we advance HIS Kingdom with our attitudes and actions as we live? While typing this devotional a photo was shared with me that I felt went right along with this thought pattern. I am sharing that photo with the hope that we all will begin to see things through the eyes (perspective) of JESUS CHRIST while we celebrate having a "MERRY CHRISTMAS!"
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