1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:14,240 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Welcome to the Crosswalk devotional. We are so 2 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:17,840 Speaker 1: thankful to have you listening with us here today. Today's 3 00:00:17,840 --> 00:00:21,880 Speaker 1: topic is about the true meaning of Christmas. We will 4 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:38,040 Speaker 1: return after a brief message from our sponsor reflecting on 5 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:42,640 Speaker 1: the true meaning of Christmas. Written by Vivian Bricker, read 6 00:00:42,880 --> 00:00:48,920 Speaker 1: by Rochelle ALBERTI. Bible reading today in the town of David, 7 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:52,560 Speaker 1: A Savior has been born to you. He is the Messiah, 8 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:58,360 Speaker 1: the Lord Luke to eleven. A Christmas tradition in my 9 00:00:58,480 --> 00:01:03,320 Speaker 1: family was watching a Charlie Brown Christmas each year. Countless 10 00:01:03,360 --> 00:01:06,880 Speaker 1: times I saw this television special, but its meaning would 11 00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:10,399 Speaker 1: elude me. While I could blame childish ways of thinking, 12 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:13,080 Speaker 1: the real reason I wasn't paying attention to the more 13 00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:16,360 Speaker 1: profound meaning was that I was rather fascinated by the 14 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:20,760 Speaker 1: materialism of Christmas. I loved the gifts, fancy dinners, and 15 00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:26,080 Speaker 1: elaborate decorations. When I rewatched a Charlie Round Christmas as 16 00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 1: an adult, I quickly saw all of the connections it 17 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:34,520 Speaker 1: had with the Gospel Lyoness shares the true meaning of Christmas, 18 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:38,960 Speaker 1: the birth of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. As an adult, 19 00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:42,560 Speaker 1: I was shocked that this Christmas ficial continued to err 20 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:47,319 Speaker 1: in such an anti Christian world. Nonetheless, I am thankful 21 00:01:47,640 --> 00:01:50,840 Speaker 1: this special continues to be shared and hopefully it has 22 00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:55,680 Speaker 1: led many people to the true meaning of Christmas. Sadly, 23 00:01:56,320 --> 00:01:59,320 Speaker 1: so many people still do not know that Christmas is 24 00:01:59,320 --> 00:02:02,880 Speaker 1: about the coming of Christ. They are blinded to the truth. 25 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:07,840 Speaker 1: The devil will continue to blind people. However, Christmas is 26 00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:11,000 Speaker 1: the perfect way to share the Gospel and combat the 27 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:15,600 Speaker 1: devil's schemes. By sharing the true meaning of Christmas with others, 28 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:18,480 Speaker 1: it can help them come to know the Lord as 29 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:25,160 Speaker 1: the personal Savior, intersecting faith in life. A plastic Christmas 30 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:28,120 Speaker 1: passage you can share with others is Luke two eleven. 31 00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:31,959 Speaker 1: Today in the town of David, a Savior has been 32 00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:36,360 Speaker 1: born to you. He is the Messiah, the Lord. From 33 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:39,480 Speaker 1: this passage we are told that a savior has been 34 00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:43,560 Speaker 1: born if he is the Messiah. As we share this 35 00:02:43,639 --> 00:02:46,680 Speaker 1: passage with others, it can help us reflect on the 36 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:51,399 Speaker 1: true meaning of Christmas ourselves. During the time span from 37 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:53,880 Speaker 1: the fall of mankind until the coming of the Lord, 38 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:59,440 Speaker 1: everyone was awaiting the Messiah. Endless Old Testament prophecies pointed 39 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:02,560 Speaker 1: to the coming Messiah who would bring lasting peace to 40 00:03:02,639 --> 00:03:06,679 Speaker 1: his people. When Gabriel shares the message detailed in Luke 41 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:09,880 Speaker 1: two eleven, the people would have been overjoyed at this 42 00:03:09,919 --> 00:03:13,440 Speaker 1: wonderful news. The Savior who would save them from their 43 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:18,239 Speaker 1: sins had finally come. When we reflect on this truth, 44 00:03:18,639 --> 00:03:21,880 Speaker 1: it helps us understand the significance of the Lord coming 45 00:03:21,919 --> 00:03:25,440 Speaker 1: down to earth. He is our Savior who left heaven 46 00:03:25,680 --> 00:03:28,720 Speaker 1: in order to save us from our sins. He was 47 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:33,240 Speaker 1: humbly born in a stable without any special treatment. Jesus 48 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:37,360 Speaker 1: deserved every wonderful thing, yet he entered the world on 49 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:41,320 Speaker 1: a silent night. Because of the Lord's birth into the world, 50 00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:44,440 Speaker 1: he was able to grow up, live a sinless life 51 00:03:45,080 --> 00:03:49,280 Speaker 1: and die for our sins. This is what Christmas is 52 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:53,080 Speaker 1: all about, and Jesus is the one we should be celebrating. 53 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:56,520 Speaker 1: We can do this by sharing our knowledge of Christ 54 00:03:56,560 --> 00:04:00,760 Speaker 1: with others. Christmas only comes once a year, yet the 55 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:04,240 Speaker 1: Lord sacrifices life in order for us to have peace 56 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:08,600 Speaker 1: every day of the year. Who can you share the 57 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:12,480 Speaker 1: true meaning of Christmas with this week? Whenever you are 58 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:15,520 Speaker 1: distracted from the true meaning of Christmas, how can you 59 00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:19,120 Speaker 1: bring your heart back to the Lord? Pray with me, 60 00:04:20,279 --> 00:04:23,599 Speaker 1: dear Lord, thank you for showing me the true meaning 61 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:27,920 Speaker 1: of Christmas. You help me to always stay focused on 62 00:04:28,080 --> 00:04:32,240 Speaker 1: You and your birth into the world. Please also help 63 00:04:32,279 --> 00:04:34,960 Speaker 1: me to lead others to know you this Christmas season. 64 00:04:35,839 --> 00:04:42,599 Speaker 1: I praise your Lord, Ahmen. Further reading Luke two one 65 00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:52,919 Speaker 1: through twenty one, Isaiah seven fourteen, Isaiah ninety six. The 66 00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:57,080 Speaker 1: Crosswalk Devotional is a production of Life Audio and Salem Media. 67 00:04:58,080 --> 00:05:00,479 Speaker 1: If you liked what you heard today, please take a 68 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:03,240 Speaker 1: second to rate and review this podcast in your favorite 69 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:06,799 Speaker 1: podcast app so that more listeners like you can find 70 00:05:06,800 --> 00:05:12,320 Speaker 1: the show. For more faith filled inspirational podcasts, visit us 71 00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:21,400 Speaker 1: at lifeaudio dot com.