Weekly Devotional: Christmas Lists: How We’ve Gone Too Far
When you think of Christmas, the first thing that often comes to mind is receiving gifts. Even though the act of giving and receiving gifts is a fun part of the holiday, Christmas means so much more than that. The true meaning of the day has begun to get buried under all the ribbons and wrapping paper to the point where many no longer celebrate what it truly means.
The True Meaning of Christmas
Before there was such a holiday as Christmas, with gifts and stockings given, there was a manger with a very important baby. Before there were ever presents under the tree, there was a Savior on the way to the cross.
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”—Luke 2:11, NIV
At its core, Christmas is the celebration of Jesus’ coming to earth as the Savior. It’s not about gifts, decorations or holiday traditions. Those can definitely be fun, but they are not the foundation. The true meaning is rooted in this truth: God loved the world so much that He sent His son to earth.
God became human: Christmas celebrates the specific moment in time when Jesus, the son of God, was born in a manger in Bethlehem.
Jesus came to save: He didn’t come only to inspire or comfort us. He came to bring hope to the broken, offer forgiveness for sin, restore peace between God and humanity and give His life so we could have eternal life with Him in Heaven one day.
The manger ultimately points to the cross.
Love is at the core: Christmas is God telling us we are loved more than we can even comprehend. Every tradition should be rooted in remembering the love God showed when He sent His son
Emmanuel: God with us: One of the names used for Jesus is Emmanuel, meaning God with us.
That is the heart of Christmas, not us reaching up to God, but in God reaching down to us.
The Greatest Gift
The world measures Christmas by what is given and received, but God measures it by what He has already given to us. The birth of Christ is the gift that can never be replaced, outdone or overshadowed. Every other gift is merely a reflection of His generosity to humanity. When we feel the pressure to buy more, God reminds us that we already possess the gift that matters most. And the best part is that it cost us nothing because he took the burden.
Christmas isn’t about the perfect plans or presents. It is about a perfect Savior who stepped into an imperfect world to save us from our sinful ways.
So, during this holiday season, think about the Bible story and what it all means for us today. Ponder how you can bring that meaning into all the events that consume the holiday. Just because Christmas is supposed to be focused on Jesus doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate by giving gifts; it simply means that we shouldn’t lose sight of the true meaning in the midst of it all.
As most students are travelling home for the holidays, think of how you can incorporate the Bible story into your traditions. For example, maybe this year you will read the Bible story before you go to bed on Christmas Eve or play Christmas trivia and add a category about the Christmas story. Be creative!
Remember, gifts are expressions of love, but Jesus is the source of love. Celebrate Christmas by seeing Christ through your family and cherish every moment.