(Reprised & Revised from a December 2014 Facebook Post)
Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.
(Luke 2:8-20)
Have you ever been the central figure around whom a huge event was planned, such as the honored guest at a huge party? What did it feel like? Suppose your birthday is coming up and your close friends and family decide to throw a huge party in your honor. Plans begin in earnest a few months before the event and everyone in your social circle indicates their intention to be there to celebrate the momentous occasion with you.
As the day approaches, your excitement builds as you see the intensity of the preparations your loved ones are putting into it. The event becomes the talk of town; everyone that’s anyone is planning on being there! You notice that your friends and family are in a shopping frenzy – everyone is hitting the malls and boutiques trying to outdo themselves with the gifts they’re planning to give you! You’re exhilarated beyond measure and can hardly wait for your big day! You’re amazed at the people God has placed in your life – people who appreciate, cherish and value you more than you realized. Here they are, collaborating to give you the time of your life, all because they love and honor you so much! What more could a person ask for? What could be as gratifying and fulfilling?
Your big day comes! You’re filled with giddy excitement as you anticipate the celebration ahead! The plan is that your friends, family, and guests arrive an hour earlier to ensure they are properly positioned to give you a thunderous ovation as you make your grand entrance. Dressed in your fanciest garb, you make your way to the venue, your heart beating in anticipation of all the excitement that awaits you. You begin to think of your loved ones and envision the love, laughter, and fun you’ll share with each of them. You finally arrive at the location and note the large number of cars parked outside. You’re thrilled that so many could make it. It’s going to be a party like no other!
As you approach the door, you hear sounds of laughter, music and celebration coming from within. Through the windows, you can see confetti and decorations of various types and colors pasted on the walls, many with your name on them. You smile as you read some of the congratulatory messages on them – you feel so loved and special! You get to the door and knock, hardly able to contain your mounting excitement. No one responds after a few moments, so you knock again, but still garner no response. You realize that amidst all the fun and noise, no one can hear you, so you knock again, this time harder. After waiting another minute or two, you realize it will take more than a firm knock to gain the attention of the partiers inside! They seem to be so absorbed in all they’re doing that they can’t hear you! You turn the doorknob, but the door is locked; this is becoming embarrassing! They were expecting you, right? Why is the door locked? You begin to pound on the door, first gently so as not to startle anyone close by, then louder as you realize they still can’t hear you. You get to the point where your pounding is so loud passers-by are staring; some curiously, most with suspicion. You begin to worry that someone may call the cops, thinking you’re a criminal, trespasser, gatecrasher, or some other person of ill intent. Surely at least one person within would have heard all the racket you’ve been making by now! You peep through the window again and it dawns on you; this party is in full swing without you, the guest of honor, and no one seems to notice or even care! In fact, your friends and family seem to be enjoying themselves immensely despite (or perhaps because of ??) your absence! The guests are strewn over the room in clusters; some laughing, some singing, others sharing jokes and anecdotes, some regaling one another with interesting experiences, while many are enjoying the sumptuous fare laid out before them. You, the person for whom the party was conceived in the first place – are left outside in the cold dark night; unnoticed, unheard, doors barred against you, clearly irrelevant and dispensable to the occasion.
Does this sound familiar? It should – since it occurs every year throughout the year but is most glaring in the events leading up to and surrounding December 25th! This is a vivid picture of what Jesus experiences from many. He, the guest of honor and reason for Christmas and all other seasons – is constantly left out in the cold while myriads of folks go on their merry way, celebrating the season of His birth while being oblivious to the reason for it, enjoying its rich customs and traditions while bucking at the simple requirements of repentance, salvation and faith in Him as the only way to God. Worse still, many of those who have submitted to His initial requirements for a relationship with Him (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 10:10-17; Ephesians 2:8-9) are so caught up in the everyday hustle and bustle of life that they have no clue that they’ve barred Him from their lives and denied Him access into His own party!
People all around the world go into a frenzy to prepare for the Christmas holidays, and for many, that is exactly what it has become – a mere holiday. Christ is nowhere to be found in their Christmas; indeed, the season has for many been reduced to a time of booming commercialism, shopping till you drop, spending time with friends and family, partying from one house to the next, etc. Many manage to satisfy their religious consciences by attending a Christmas service, satisfied that they’ve performed their religious duty and can check off their religious roster. In Africa, many travel from their cities of habitation to their villages of origin. There, they visit with friends and family and dole out money and gifts. Such generous folks represent the African version of Santa Claus (i.e., Father Christmas) – as they distribute generously and are hailed as the philanthropists and champions of those rural communities. In the West, people tap into the holiday cheer by performing various acts of kindness and philanthropy. Many buy gifts or donate money to the less privileged, while others volunteer in organizations that serve the poor. The wealthy take advantage of the season to make donations to the charities and causes of their fancy, being their last window of opportunity to gain tax advantages before the year draws to a close.
In the hustle and bustle of everyday living, and with the busyness of preparing for and celebrating Christmas, many individuals perpetually excluded Christ! In fact, the term “Merry Christmas” is being phased out of the standard greetings of the season in favor of the more politically correct term “Happy Holidays!” This is in a deliberate effort to de-emphasize Christ and be all-inclusive and acknowledging of non-Christian celebrations occurring within the same season.
Christmas has and always will be all about Jesus Christ, no matter society’s attempt to conform to the compromise of political correctness or other pressures of our time. Nothing can alter the fact that over two thousand years ago, God came down to earth in human form, becoming human to save humanity from the bondage of sin. “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder. And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6, KJV) ” … and you shall call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21, NASB)
The greatest gift of all time has already been given in the person of Jesus Christ! He came to live and die humanity’s behalf, so that we wouldn’t have to pay the penalty of sin (death – ultimate separation from God and all He has to offer both in this current life and in the one to come), and so that we could have a vibrant, personal relationship with one true and living God and thereby live purposefully and fulfill destiny! He came that we might have life, and not just bios life, but the abundant, glory-filled God kind of life (Romans 6:23; John 10:10)! This gift is not for any one set of people, it’s for ALL that believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the one true and living God (John 1:12; Acts 10:34-35)!!
Are buying gifts, spending time with friends and family, being generous and the other things described wrong? No, but when done to the exclusion of or relegation of Christ to a corner, they defeat the purpose of Christmas. JESUS ALONE is the reason for the season, not the holidays, not the parties, not even our friends and families, as important as they are. Jesus is the purpose for which Christmas exists and celebrating Christmas without keeping Him as the central figure of all the surrounding activities amounts to locking the guest of honor out of the party! Our annual celebration of Christmas is to remind the world of Jesus’ birth on our behalf, and that Christ is the essence of our existence, for ” In Him we live and move and have our being”, and ” …… by Him all things consist (exist)” (Acts 17:28; Colossians 1:17).
So how do we remain Christ-centered in a season that is undisputedly the busiest around the world? How do we keep the Christ in Christmas? Here are a few practical suggestions:
1) Retreat & Re-evaluate – In any type of combat or competitive sport, a wise commander or coach will temporarily recall his troops or team off the battle ground at the end of a round, or when things are not going as planned. If the group feels they are too busy fighting or competing to take the few minutes necessary to retreat and re-evaluate, they will likely lose the battle or game, not because they were not skillful or prepared, but because they failed to take the steps necessary to assess their current state and re-adjust their strategy to ensure the victory they desire.
If you feel like Christ is missing from your Christmas preparations and celebrations, take a few days (and if not possible, at least at least a few minutes daily) to get by yourself (if you have to lock yourself in the bathroom to get away from the crowds, do it!!) to reassess your life and determine where you’ve placed Christ – centrally on the seat of honor (your heart), decentralized in a corner location of your life (where He has no say or visibility), or outside your life altogether, having never repented of your sins and asked Him in to be the Lord and Savior of your life (if this last scenario describes you, please contact me so I can show you how to invite Him in and have Him change your life in amazing ways!!)?
2) Refocus & Rededicate – In your time of retreat and re-evaluation, take time to remind yourself of what Christmas is about, what Jesus’s birth means to you as an individual, to your family and to your community at large. As you do is, your heart will swell with joy and appreciation for the amazing gift that Christ is, and the amazing love He poured upon us by humbling Himself to become human for our sakes! Use this time to repent and ask for His forgiveness for getting caught up in the busyness of life, instead of remaining focused on him. Ask Him for the grace and strength to always keep Him at the center of your life. Rededicate yourself to Him and determine to stick with your commitment. When Daniel and his friends purposed in their hearts to honor God by not defiling and entangling themselves with the lifestyle and patterns of those around them, God honored and distinguished them above all their peers (Daniel 1:8-20). He’ll do the same for you!
3) Regroup & Recuperate -> After rededicating your heart and focus to Jesus, strategizing on ways to keep Him as your perpetual central focus becomes crucial to your success. This is the regrouping aspect. Be sure to spend time with Him daily by worshipping, reading your Bible and praying. This is essential to always keeping Him as your focus, as well as keeping you healthy and vibrant in your walk with Him. Plug yourself into a vibrant, Christ-centered church that offers weekly Bible Studies, prayer meetings, and other corporate activities that are vital to keeping on fire and in tandem with Christ. Be sure to read the Christmas story in Matthew or Luke’s Gospels (I like to do a comparative study of both so I can get the most out of its vital truths); this gives you a fresh appreciation for Christ’s birth and its purpose and significance to humanity. Throughout the coming year, commit to a personal Bible Study reading plan (there is a plethora of them available online or devise one for yourself) and discipline yourself to stick. The more you read, the more you’ll want to read! If you fall behind or get off-track, get right back on it without skipping a beat. A champion is not one who never fails or falls, but one who rises and continues onto victory despite his many failures and falls! No matter how much ground you have a lost at any given time, getting back into it will cause you to recuperate much lost ground versus not doing so at all!
As you do all these, your passion, focus and appreciation for Christ and Christmas will begin to define you, rather than allowing you to be defined and conformed to the world around you (characterized by the distractions, busyness and frenzy of the season). You regain lost ground and Jesus becomes the centerpiece of your life once again! THIS is the reason it is so important to be Christ-centered this season and indeed always; that Christ might be glorified in and by our lives, just as we are glorified in and by Him (2 Thessalonians 1:12). This is recuperation – regaining lost ground!
On a final note, several well-meaning individuals have fallen into the trap of using the term X-mas rather than Christmas, either as a politically correct compromise, as a form of shorthand or from sheer habit. Whatever the reason, please note that Jesus is not “ex” anything; He is “the same yesterday, today and forever” (Hebrews 13:5), “The One Who was, is, and is to come” (Revelations 4:8), and “the Beginning and the End” of all things (Revelations 1:8). Please do not unwittingly “X” Him out of Christmas so that you do not unwittingly “ex” yourself out of His favor, plan, and blessings! Jesus is the reason for the season! In a world’s system that is being very deliberate in trying to deny His lordship and supremacy, we need to be very intentional about representing Him rightly … by standing up for the truth, making Him the centerpiece of our lives by showcasing Him at every opportunity, and by purposing to reflect His beauty and glory always – especially in this season that theoretically honors His birth – a superb opportunity for all to know that a Savior was born on their behalf!
Determine to keep the Christ in your Christmas this year and always and may your Christ-filled Christmas lead to a wonder-filled upcoming year!
For Your Worshipping Pleasure (Christmas-Related Themes)
Jesus At The Center/All Hail King Jesus – Maverick City Music
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=cppk44JFVMk&feature=share
Agnus Dei/King of Kings – Brooke Ligertwood, Chidima Ubah, & Jenn Johnson
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=IVumVrkbq4s&feature=share
Is He Worthy/Agnus Dei/We Fall Down – Maverick City Music
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=EJl8mBzcPeM&feature=share
Hosanna – Hillsong Worship
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=hnMevXQutyE&feature=share
Hosanna (Be Lifted) – Israel Houghton & New Breed
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=rsy-odKfc-w&feature=share
O Come Let Us Adore Him – Maverick City Music
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=k7EU7EvhYGc&feature=share
Mary Did You Know? – Maverick City Music