The grinch that steals Christmas
It is a classic. How the Grinch stole Christmas.
We have all read Dr. Seuss’s book to our children and watched the movie on television. The story about the funny looking green guy who gets so annoyed at the people from Who-ville, so annoyed at their joy, laughter and Christmas spirit that he decides that he is going to take all of the fun right out of their Who-ville spirit and steal away their Christmas. He had the notion that if he stole their presents, their trees, their decorations and food that all of the Who’s in Who-ville would have nothing left to celebrate. They would have no joy. No fun. No Christmas spirit.
But the Grinch didn’t understand what Christmas spirit was, now did he?
It isn’t about getting presents, or dressing up in our finest red dresses. It isn’t about the tinsel, the lights or even the star on the tree. It isn’t about singing carols, going on sleigh rides or drinking hot chocolate on a cold night. Christmas spirit is not what we DO, or what we SAY or even what we BRING. Christmas spirit is what we KNOW!
“And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at His birth!” LUKE 1:14
Even though the Grinch stole all of their “things”, the one thing he could not steal was what was in their hearts.
We may think that there aren’t any real Grinches in this world, but we are wrong. We all have to contend with a Grinch that not only attempts to steal our Christmas spirit but every day, 365 days a year, 12 months a year, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, there is a Grinch who tries to steal our spirit of Christ! One who seeks to steal, kill and destroy! (John 10:10)
Just like Dr. Suess’s Grinch stole presents, the Grinch I am thinking of, the enemy, also tries to steal our presents. God has given each of us special talents and gifts. The enemy hates that. It disgusts him. It really, really annoys him to see us use our gifts for Gods glory. So what does he do? He packs up his sled and gives it his best shot to take away what God has given us. He will not relent until he has stripped us of every thing that God has bestowed upon us.
He knows that taking our cars, our homes and our clothes will not be as devastating as losing our kids, our spouses, our hope, our faith and yes even our spirit. He tries to use every trickery in his bag to get us to lose our joy, lose our smile, lose our faith, lose our trust in people and in God.
But when we put our hope and trust in God, there is nothing that can shake us. We may lose our material things, but no-one, and I mean NO-ONE, not even the enemy, can rob us of what lives in our heart and our soul. Nobody can steal Christmas when Christmas lives within our hearts.
May you experience the joy of our Savior this Christmas and in all the days to come. He IS joy and that is something that no Grinch can steal!
Wonderful devotion.
What a powerful Christmas message, Laurie. You are right, no-one can steal our joy we have in Christ.
Laurie,
I have to say this has to be my favorite post you have ever posted!! Beautifully written 🙂 I needed to be reminded of this today.
Thank you for your thoughts!
Love you,
Krista
Really sad…..
This is not a devotion it’s about us/me and what I get.
The joy in the Gospel is about knowing Jesus.
It has nothing to do with our talents or anything else.
How can you even compare the Grinch with the Devil?
By doing this it does which most ‘nice’ people do and dumb down and belittle the true meaning of Christmas…….which is effectively about Hope of Salvation through Repentance as we are all set to perish.
Ready John 3:16 again really slowly!
Sam, I appreciate your comment and am sorry for your disagreement. However, I stand upon God’s Word when It says that the enemy will come to steal, kill and destroy. Using the example of “The Grinch” was a metaphor to bring our attention to the point that sometimes our focus of what Christmas is really based upon (like you said John 3:16), the wonder of the birth of our Savior, is stolen away by the enemy who instead brings us down and puts doubts of love, acceptance and Truth in our spirits. The enemy uses all sorts of measures to steal our joy, not holiday joy, but spiritual joy. All you have to do is read the statistics about depression and suicide around this time of year, it’s the highest time of the year. The enemy is no joke, he is prowling around to steal, kill and destroy and we must put CHRIST back in Christmas for He IS the reason for the season. I think this article IS a devotion because it speaks of real life and directs the readers to God and His Word! Be blessed. ?
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pithy and sappy and so self-centred. shame on you.