I can’t imagine the joy of that day. That day when Jesus Christ was born in a manger. It was the BEST day in the whole of history for celebration, because HOPE came in the form of a baby. The Creator of the World humbled Himself to take on human form, to come to earth in the lowliest of manners. And that’s why Christmas is so special. Because it’s when light broke through the darkness, and the weary world rejoiced. This has come to my mind so much this Christmas season, even as I still have lingering food fears around the holidays. This Christmas has been all about rediscovering the JOY of celebration in eating. Eating is supposed to be a CELEBRATION, a celebration of Jesus’ and the life He brings, Jesus and the LIGHT He brings, Jesus and the salvation, the hope, the grace, the goodness, the reminder of God’s justice and how much we need the salvation that Jesus brings.
Eating is not the enemy.
That’s what ED tries to tell you. It tries to say that food is the enemy. That celebration is a bad thing.
But it’s not.
I love reading through the OT and seeing the descriptions of how God wanted the Israelites to set aside time feasting.
Deuteronomy 16:16 says, ‘”Three times in a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God in the place which He chooses, at the Feast of Unleavened Bread and at the Feast of Weeks and at the Feast of Booths, and they shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed.’
Deuteronomy 16:1-3, ‘”Observe the month of Abib and celebrate the Passover to the LORD your God, for in the month of Abib the LORD your God brought you out of Egypt by night. “You shall sacrifice the Passover to the LORD your God from the flock and the herd, in the place where the LORD chooses to establish His name. “You shall not eat leavened bread with it; seven days you shall eat with it unleavened bread, the bread of affliction (for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste), so that you may remember all the days of your life the day when you came out of the land of Egypt.’
God wanted His people to remember His goodness. He didn’t want them to forget. He wanted them to use the feasting as an opportunity to remember.
That’s what Christmas is about.
It’s about remembering Jesus Christ, who LIVES, who came, who died for sinners, who rose again triumphant over the grave. Christmas is not about fearing food and fearing sugar and calories. It’s about delighting in Jesus, delighting in Jesus Christ who came to a world that’s at enmity with God, that’s under God’s judgment for their sins.
John 3:15-17, ‘That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.’
So. Tomorrow. While you eat. While you celebrate, if you’ve never heard of Jesus or if you have, may your heart be FILLED to overflowing with the joy of Christ Jesus, the joy of Emmanuel, God with us, the prince of peace, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father.
I’m linking up with Jamie for Sunday Thoughts and all the other sisters this precious Christmas Eve. There is so much joy in this holiday; it’s a joy that doesn’t have to stop on Christmas Day. It can continue 365 days a year, because Jesus lives. I want to be the 10 year old girl again in the picture above that loved celebrating God’s gift of food, celebrating Him and His goodness, because Jesus has saved me from my sin so a wretch like me could learn to love God and learn to love others and have hope of eternal life.
I don’t want to fear that food that God has made, that God designed to nourish our bodies for His glory.
Luke 1:30-35, ‘And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.’
For some other wonderful ladies who have written some posts about Christmas and Eating and Food Freedom and Body Image check out these:
How to Feel Less Stressed Around Food During the Holidays
Better Pants: A Lesson in Gratitude
How to Tune Out Dieting and Eat Intuitively During the Holidays
What is your favorite part about Christmas?
Favorite Christmas Food?
What is a wondrous part about Jesus’ birth that you maybe hadn’t noticed before this year?
