<p> Weekly Devotional Thoughts </p><p>This time of the year we hear a lot about the “Christmas Spirit”. There is the false narrative that Christmas can somehow be cancelled unless the Christmas Spirit is revived by a miraculous act of generosity on someone’s part. Christmas movies tend to define the Christmas Spirit as a romantic type of love. Some people identify it as being able to buy the perfect gift for loved ones. For a few, it’s having the perfect Christmas tree, the best decorations and outstanding cookies. The popular idea is that the Christmas Spirit is generated by us. It is something we control. This understanding of the Christmas Spirit is idolatry. We have broken the first commandment, “thou shall have no other gods before me”. To experience the Christmas Spirit, we need to understand it’s about God and His love for us. The real meaning is found in knowing the Christmas story is true! That God, came to us. The angel announced it in Luke 2:10-11 “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord”. Look at the angel’s announcement from God. Everything has already been done. God chose the time, the place and the circumstances of Christ’s birth. We are merely the recipients of this great gift. If there is anything we can do to bring about the Christmas Spirit, it is to willingly receive God’s gracious gift. Freely remove the idols from within us and allow this child, the Messiah, to come into our hearts and to transform us into individuals that readily live lives that are after God’s own heart. When we accept the world’s definition of the Christmas Spirit we practice idolatry. The person who truly experiences and knows what the Christmas Spirit is, is the one that humbly receives God’s gracious gifts of love, forgiveness, mercy and redemption. We are the beneficiaries not the creators. </p><p>Blessings:</p><p>Pastor Brian </p>