Christmas Is Something More
The holiday season inspires feelings of warmth, joy, peace, and love. But for some, this time of year can evoke feelings of loneliness, stress, and anxiety. According to a 2017 survey by the American Psychological Association, 38 percent of people said their stress level increases during the holidays. A lack of time or money, commercialism, the pressures of gift-giving, and family gatherings were their top stressors. It is understandable that those who are stressed out might find Christmas pervasive, and dislike it.
In general, people who don’t like the holidays have traditions that don’t reflect their core values. If Christmas is just another shopping day, doing a juggling act with nonstop commitments, and the same old insignificant routines – what’s there to like?
Love for the holidays is found in the person of Jesus Christ, celebrating His glory at Christmas. Unlike in the old testament Bible times – the glory of God dwelled in the tabernacle and in the temple – new testament Jesus appeared in the flesh. *Eternal like Father God, (existing with the Father in eternity before His birth to earth) He is divine in nature and caused the world to come into existence. Jesus is the gift to mankind unlike any other.
*Before anything else existed, there was Christ, with God. He has always been alive and is himself God. He created everything there is—nothing exists that he didn’t make. Eternal life is in him, and this life gives light to all mankind. His life is the light that shines through the darkness—and the darkness can never extinguish it. John 1:1-5TLB
Christmas Grace
God’s Grace is revealed at Christmas through Jesus, who became nothing (volunteered to empty Himself of His rights, rank, and glorious privileges of heaven) for the likeness of a human. Still retaining His deity – now He could be touched by what touches you and me and be able to minister to our needs as the Prince of Peace. A simple birth, bringing heaven to earth for us, not because we deserved it, but by the Grace of God.
The Magi brought gifts of frankincense and myrrh to the baby Jesus. Our Savior, the man Jesus, gives us the ultimate example of humility, obedience, and sacrifice. He was born to die to break the chains of our slavery to sin.
The greatest extent of our faith is used when we accept the birth of Christ and ask Him to forgive our sins and live in our hearts. This unseen force of divine grace gives us reason to trust Him with our lives – present and future. His gift is received by faith, not with works, not wrapped in the tangible presents of the holiday but present in our souls every day.
Today, because of His birth, we can experience a glorious expectancy and exclamation in Christ! Jesus is “life” giving – the light of the world, the breath of life, our living water and bread of life. Jesus is “supreme” – He is a light that shines in the darkness that cannot be overcome. Jesus is “among us” – we know of His humanness, we’ve seen who He is – revealed in miracles, healings, teachings and the resurrection. We experience what He does by God’s grace in blessing after blessing.
Yes, celebration time! How else could we sing and hear the same Christmas carols for the 1,000th time and still be touched in our hearts? Why else would our rituals become sacred and hold great hope and joyfulness?
Something More
My hope is that the excitement of Christmas will overtake any sense of anxiety or disbelieve you may have. During this pandemic is a great time to celebrate Christmas! Throughout Bible history the boldest promises of the coming Messiah were given during the darkest hours of time (Genesis 3:15, Exodus 12:13, Isaiah 28:16, Jeremiah 23:5). It is the same now, while things are at their worst—Jesus is our promised consolation!
I have memories of some over-the-top joyful Christmases as well as some very sad ones. I think the key is in gathering the real elements for the season together. Which might mean filtering out distractions, myths, unbelief, overkill expenditures, and the circumstances others push. This will keep our rituals from becoming stressful, dead routines, and preserve the Christmas meaning from flying out of the window.
Tips for a glorious season:
- Identify a few of your core values and build some new traditions around them. Make what you do meaningful for you without trying to follow trends.
- Highlight various details about the birth of Jesus, and why it is so important, into your celebration routine.
- Instead of allowing the loss of loved ones to dredge up painful memories, turn memories into points of joy and inclusion for the holiday.
- Use the resources at hand without stressing over anything that is not like it was. Less can be more when it’s packed with heartfelt deposits.
- Keep communications among family, friends, and work/business clear. Bring desires to the forefront with everyone managing some part of decision making.
- Create sensible limits and stick to them — for holiday spending, eating, drinking, parties, and gathering in large groups.
To Him we sing, glory to the newborn King!
