A Christmas Reflection
A Christmas Reflection: Thinking about what the birth of Jesus means for us, not just on Christmas but for our life.
When I was younger, I remember seeing this one skit at my church during the holidays. The scene was a birthday party. It was the host’s birthday and he invited all his friends to celebrate. Each guest arrived with a gift. However, instead of giving it to the birthday celebrant, the guests gave it to each other. They laughed, ate, celebrated and opened up each other’s presents – hardly paying attention to the birthday celebrant. Then they all went home. The celebrant was left alone.
That skit was a reflection of how often we treat Christmas. We begin to make it about the parties, the food, the shopping, the presents. And we almost forget entirely why or who we’re celebrating at all.
I’ve got to admit, as I grew up, I too got lost in the hustle and bustle of the holidays. I’ve often needed the reminder to stop, slow down, and take the time to be with Jesus –
remember not just his birth, but the gift of his life which he willingly gave for the joy of our salvation.
A New Family Tradition
Something my husband and I started with our daughters just last year, was to have a birthday cake for Jesus. We get to sing happy birthday, and yes eat the cake too. Most importantly we can start teaching them early why we really celebrate Christmas.
We’ve also introduced doing advent activities and reading scriptures throughout the month to help us stay focused.
If you receive my newsletters (the Monthly ReeView), you see that I’ve sent out an Advent Scripture Calendar. It’s for the whole month of December, with a a scripture passage to read for each day. (You can download it from my Freebie Library here)
Today’s Advent Scripture Verse
“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”
Romans 5:8
Now I know that’s not your typical Christmas verse. But what I love about that is it’s a reminder of a bigger picture. When the first man and woman disobeyed God in the garden they broke that perfect relationship with him. Since that time God had a plan set in motion to restore that relationship.
Christmas was God revealing in a tangible way, his blessed plan to mankind.
He was letting us in on how we can be restored to a relationship with God. Friends, the birth of Jesus is just the beginning of God fulfilling his promise to bring us salvation.
In some versions of the bible, the title of this section in Romans 5 is “Faith Brings Joy.” You guys, it truly does. We always talk of joy on Christmas, but my prayer is that you fully discover what Joy in Christ is like. This Christmas may you not just remember his birth, but may you be aware of the impact of his death and resurrection can have in your life.
“So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.”
Romans 5:11
That is the kind of joy and celebration I wish and pray for you my friend.
Merry Christmas & Happy Birthday Jesus!
