I was out running errands today. I left about 9:15 am or so. We had some light freezing rain last night so it was cloudy, damp, and quite cold when I went out. As the day wore on, the sun came out. I was going into Walmart, and as I was walking in, I thought, “I don’t really need my scarf and gloves anymore. Since the sun has come out, things have begun to warm up.” And then it occurred to me.

Isn’t that just what having Jesus in our hearts should do for us all the time? We are flooded with His being and His love, and the warmth of the SON keeps us toasty from the inside out.

That is not to say that as Christians we don’t have struggles. Jesus actually said, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.” (John 16:33b NLT) However, He goes on in that same verse to say, “But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

As I pondered this in my mind, my thoughts turned to loved one’s who don’t know Jesus as Lord and Savior. I felt sad because I know that they do not have the Son to keep them warm when those trials come.

Who do you know that needs to have the warmth of the Son to keep away the chill of this harsh world in which we live? Why not invite them out for coffee or hot chocolate and introduce them to the One whose warmth will never fade?

I purchased a car magnet last week at Lifeway Christian bookstore that says, “Keep CHRIST in Christmas.” I bought it on impulse when I saw it because the whole wishing people “Happy Holidays” because it’s politically incorrect to say “Merry Christmas” anymore drives me insane.

Here’s the thing, though. And tell me if you find yourself doing this. When you’re in a store, do you hesitate to wish the clerk a Merry Christmas? I find that I do. I’ve bought into the whole PC thing. It’s not automatic for me to say Merry Christmas anymore. Why is that? I mean, I’m a Christian and have been for most of my life. I KNOW “the reason for the season.” I know that Jesus coming to earth in the form of an infant is the reason for my joy, not just during Christmas, but all year through. So why would I hesitate to make that known in such a small way to a total stranger? I’m not ashamed of my love for the Lord, so why am I concerned that I will offend someone by saying “Merry Christmas?”

That person may not know Jesus as his or her personal Savior. They may be thinking that their life has no meaning, that no one cares for them. What if God put that person in my path for the sole purpose of having me say Merry Christmas so they could ask me if it really is? While I believe that God will still reach that person whether or not I allow myself to be used by Him that day, what a blessing I will have missed out on because I worried he or she might be offended. More importantly, it might cost them the opportunity to know THAT day that God loves them, and that He sent His Son to come to this world for them. That if they were the only person on this earth, God would still have sent Jesus here to die for them. Oh yes, it definitely is a MERRY CHRISTmas!

Just something to think about next time you’re out and about during this Christmas season.

Merry Christmas, indeed!