Our Advent Series comes from a plan provided by Church of the Valley on The YouVersion Bible App. For more information, please visit: https://ccv.church.
Day Seven: The Christmas Greeting
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays are a couple of the most popular greetings during the Christmas season. But did you know that each phrase carries its own meaning? Happy Holidays derived from the phrase “Happy Holy Days” which was a greeting used toward those who worshiped God. Eventually, the phrase shifted to “holiday” which means “enjoy this time of year no matter what you’re celebrating.” On the other hand, “Merry Christmas” means “pleasant, happy, or joy” and “the feast or mass of Christ”. Why would we use a word like “Christmas” that reminds us of Jesus’ death to celebrate Jesus’ birthday?
Read Romans 15:13.
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
When you greet someone by saying, “Merry Christmas!”, what you’re actually saying is, “I have joy because Jesus is alive in me.”
Read 1 Corinthians 15:55-57.
55 “Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Takeaway: Think of the places that you can share a “Merry Christmas” greeting with others and share the joy and love of Jesus this Christmas season.
