Daily Devotional

If you happen to stop by my office anytime during the year, there’s a good chance you’ll hear Christmas music playing. I think it was during my ‘choir days’ that I got hooked on playing Christmas music all year long. When I was the Worship Ministries Pastor at my previous church, we did huge cantatas at Christmas every year with a 90 voice choir, full orchestra, kids and youth choirs, a drama team, the works. Well, after the Monday morning after the last concert, we’d meet to evaluate the concerts, and the impact the Lord made. And during the second half of that meeting, we’d start talking about ideas for next year. This included starting to listen to Christmas music for choir and orchestra. Word Music, Brentwood/Benson, Lifeway were all Christmas music companies with hundreds of Christmas choices.  And they loved our church because we bought tons of music from them. So…I never stopped listening to Christmas music, always trying to come up with ideas for songs, dramas, and other creative ideas. Even as I write this devotional, I have Christmas music playing on Spotify.  
 
Have you ever heard of an event called ‘Christmas in July’? It’s kind of a big deal in some communities and even churches. For stores and businesses, it’s usually tied into a sale…the ‘Christmas in July’ sale. Bringing back some of the spending of Christmas and making money.
But when churches do ‘Christmas in July’, it’s about reminding us of the meaning of Christmas.
 
Luke 2:8, 10 - "In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;"
 
When we think of Christmas, we think of warm family gatherings and thoughtful deeds showing people we care. Caroling for the neighborhoods around the church. Helping people who are poor and needy. Going to nursing homes and singing for the sick and elderly. Having Christmas parties. Christmas is a time each year we stop focusing so much on ourselves, and start focusing on others.
 
It was God who started this tradition by giving His only begotten Son to the world to save sinners. That includes you and me. As we think about the birth of Jesus Christ, we see Him as the Gift God gave to the world. When we meet with people, we give gifts, kind words, and acts of service. But we also find ways to share the message of a Savior sent to the world by God.
 
Unfortunately, most of us, once we pull the old calendar off the wall and replace it with a new one, old feelings and selfish habits start making their way back to our thinking. One of the reasons I love thinking about Christmas in July is because it keeps the giving of Christmas in front of us all year long. My Dad used to sing in a gospel quartet. They recorded a song called, “Everyday is Christmas with the Lord.” It never made it on a record label or played on Christian radio, but think about the truth…even in the title. When we are a Christian, every day we should be thinking about God sending His only begotten Son to the world to save sinners. And His giving to us, should spur us on to give to others…every day of the year.
 
So, why not think of something you can do for someone else today? Maybe something you’d normally do at Christmas. Bake cookies for a neighbor. Go visit a nursing home giving a little bag of candies to each person you meet. Maybe stop short of caroling around the neighborhood. That would seem weird to most.  
 
And start praying for ways to demonstrate the spirit of kindness we show at Christmas all year long. Ask God to help people see the love of Christ in you.

New American Standard Bible (NASB)
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