Christmas is the most celebrated holiday in the world!
In 2021, studies show that 2 billion people celebrate Christmas.
That is the same, as if the entire American population celebrated Christmas… times 6.
Christmas is a Christian holiday, however, it is celebrated by nonbelievers, as well.
The modern traditions of Christmas have evolved, in order to include those who don’t celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
Nowadays, we find that the traditions, which have nothing to do with Jesus, are practiced more than those that do.
It is a struggle to keep Christ in Christmas!
This could be because of the intrigue that the traditions have developed over the years; or it could be because, we struggle to know the best way to observe Christ’s birth.
Since Christmas is not in the Bible, Christians struggle to confirm the best way to celebrate.
We exchange gifts, because it reminds us of the gift of the Savior.
Spending time with our families has become a common tradition, because loving one another is God-honoring.
However, gift giving has now made us focused on material things and we celebrate family, more than we celebrate the One who saved us and our families.
Christmas is not immune from becoming something that distracts us from Jesus.
Don’t get me wrong,
I adore twinkly lights on a pine tree, probably far more than the average person;
however, it is paramount that we keep the meaning of Christmas at the forefront of our minds in this season.
It makes me wonder,
What can I do to make Jesus the reason for the season, in my heart?
How do I keep Christ in Christmas?
The answer is rather simple!
Here it is…
Give gifts!
I know what you are thinking…
“Isn’t this the Christmas tradition that has become the most materialistic?”
How can gift exchanging be the key to keeping Christ in Christmas?
I hear ya!
Gifts are tricky because we find ways of focusing more on the gifts themselves, rather than the One who gave the most precious gift…
Jesus!
Nevertheless, gift-exchange during Christmastime is such a vital tradition, if done with the right motive.
Christmas is the celebration of God giving us the most priceless and extravagant gift…
His Son wrapped in the appearance of a baby, who would become the payment for our offenses.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16 NKJV.
Because Jesus grew up to become the atonement for our sin, we all have access to God and eternal life.
Jesus is, quite literally, the definition of
the gift that keeps on giving!
“But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.”
Romans 5:15-19 NKJV.
Grace was wrapped inside that manger on that miraculous night, in Bethlehem.
Righteousness was not earned by us, it was purchased by God and given to us as a free gift.
The most amazing gift that we could ever be given, was given through a baby.
This is what Christmas is truly about!
Oftentimes, our desire for receiving gifts, or our quest to give good gifts, draws our attention away from acknowledging the greatest gift that was ever given.
I don’t think gifts are bad!
On the contrary.
I suppose, the purpose of this post is to remind you that we are actually celebrating a birthday on Christmas!
What do we do on birthdays?
We give gifts to the one whose birthday it is!
On Christmas, we should remember to give gifts to Jesus!
Wait…
How do you give the Son of God a birthday present?
We can’t exactly give Him a coffee mug, right?
I’m not insisting that we buy God a wrist watch or a tee shirt and give it to Him.
However, I am encouraging you to start to view Christmas as an opportunity to give to God.
Are you still a bit confused by this concept?
Let me show you a passage of scripture, that will explain exactly what I mean…
Go to Matthew 25:31-46 NKJV.
““When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.””
Jesus says something powerful.
To the extent
that we do things for one another,
is actually received by Jesus.
This means that how we treat others directly affects Jesus.
So, if we love one another, we are giving love to Jesus.
Likewise, if we disregard one another, we are disregarding Jesus.
If we are generous and kind to people, Jesus views it as us doing the same to Him.
However, if we refuse to give to others and are only concerned with what we can gain…
Jesus sees this as us treating Him that way.
Our consideration for ourselves before others, on Christmas, must affect Jesus that much more… Seeing that we treat Him this way on the celebration of His birth.
On the same day that commemorates His coming, to give His life for us,
our birthday gift to Him is disregarding Him and wanting more for ourselves.
This is why giving to one another is so beautiful!
Giving to one another,
is actually an opportunity to give to Jesus!
Just as God gave us a gift on the day of Christ’s birth, receiving gifts is a part of Christmas.
That isn’t all that it’s about though.
It’s about Jesus!
We have a chance to give Him an actual Birthday present!
If Jesus receives what we give to others,
how do we give to others in a way that presents Jesus with a gift that He will love?
Fortunately, Jesus already told us what would display love towards Him!
““If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
John 14:15 NKJV.
We could certainly seek to follow God’s word and that will matter immensely to Jesus!
What commandments is He talking about?
“Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.””
Matthew 22:37-40 NKJV.
“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
John 15:12 NKJV.
“Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.”
Romans 13:8 NKJV.
Okay!
We know that we can give a gift to Jesus through how we treat people, and we know the kind of gifts that Jesus loves!
Those gifts are…
- Love for God.
- Love for people.
This is how we can give Jesus a gift for His Birthday!
Loving God and loving people!
A wonderful way to show love is by
following God’s law.
We can start simple!
For example, love is shown by giving generously to people, both with resources and by generously offering them our attention and time.
Gift with forgiveness; and consider other people, before we consider ourselves.
Being kind, patient, understanding and willing to let the other benefit, even if it costs us.
These are excellent ways to celebrate Christmas!
I believe that these traditions would delight God’s heart most!
Remember that Christmas is about Jesus!
There is no better way to celebrate Christmas, than to take every opportunity to show Jesus love!
Loving Jesus is shown through loving those around us.
That is the greatest gift that we could ever give!
This is how Jesus wants us to celebrate Him on Christmas!
Love is more than a feeling!
Learn more about loving others as Jesus loves you, in our post…
How to Know if it’s LOVE.
Photo by JESHOOTS.com from Pexels.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
