Christmas Starts With Christ
by Malcolm Wood
‘Christmas Starts With Christ’ is the name of a campaign which was launched on Advent Sunday. It’s aimed at helping churches to make Christ, and the amazing story of His birth, the focus of the nation’s favourite time of the year. According to their publicity ‘just twelve per cent of adults know the nativity story, and more than one third of children don’t know whose birthday it is. Meanwhile, fifty one percent of people now say that the birth of Jesus is irrelevant to their Christmas’.
This campaign is praiseworthy, as it might help redress the balance, and alert people once again to the true meaning and significance of Christmas. But my mind went to the bigger picture, not just of Christmas, but of how Christ is central to all things.
In Colossians we read ‘He (Christ) existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can`t see- such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else and he holds all creation together. Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything.’ (Colossians 1:15-18). Well might we declare ‘O come let us adore him’.
Once again, as we celebrate the birth of our Saviour, and recognise His central place in the whole meaning of Christmas, let’s also remember to acknowledge Him as Saviour and give Him His rightful place as Lord in every aspect of our lives for the next 364 days, and beyond.
‘He is King of kings and Lord of lords for ever and for ever. Hallelujah! Amen’.
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, Please help me to put You first at all times and in all areas of my life. Amen.
Malcolm Wood and his wife Anna became part of the Ellel family as House Managers at Ellel Grange in 1990. Since then they have been involved with many aspects of the developing Ministry. From 2001 until 2015 they were Directors of Ellel Scotland where they hosted several International Schools and Operation Blairmore and helped pioneer the exciting Creative Inspiration Weeks. They have three sons.
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