Christmas Trees

Each week on the blog, we'll present a review of the message from this past Sunday. Last week, we talked about Christmas trees.

Each year over 33 million new trees and over 9 million artificial trees are sold in the United States. Martin Luther was the first to bring the Christmas tree in the house and put lights on it! Originally, the Christmas tree was called the Christ Tree.

As we look at the Christmas tree, this year let's see more than just the lights and the decorations, let's look at the meaning behind them.

The Lights
Jesus declared, "I am the light of the world." Then he told his disciples to be the light of the world. As we see the Christmas tree, let's remember to reflect his light this season.

The Presents
The presents under the tree remind us that God gave us the greatest gift we could ever receive: the gift of a savior. The best gifts reflect the character of the giver and meet the need of the recipient. What better gift could God have given than Jesus.

The Decorations
The decorations are what make each tree unique. No two trees are ever decorated exactly the same. God has decorated your life with talents and abilities. We are fulfilled when we use those talents and abilities to serve God and help people.

The Stand
Without the stand, the tree would topple over and crash. What kind of stand are we building our lives on? The promises and purposes of God or something of our own invention.

The Tree Itself
Jesus was born in a manger carved from a tree. He worked as a carpenter using wood from trees most of his life. Eventually, he died on a cross, made from a tree. Interestingly, Jesus never asked us to remember his birth, only his death. As we look at the Christmas tree, let's see the cross because it's the cross that brings us forgiveness and new life!