Christmas Inspired: keeping Christ in Christmas

Today Ben and I got the opportunity to speak in church. We were asked to speak on keeping Christ in Christmas. I wanted to share some of my thoughts on that...

Keeping Christ in Christmas

One December, when I was still very young, my grandmother was visiting us in Tokyo. We were on a walk, the two of us, and I loved to see the Christmas decorations that were up in the city. As I looked into one manger I was surprised to see not Jesus, but Santa Clause, nested in the hay under Mary and Joseph’s loving gaze. 

The world recognizes that there is something important about this time of year - a reason to take off work, to spend time as a family, and to lovingly exchange gifts. They feel the joy and the happiness. We have atheist friends who tell me they love Christmas time because of the happiness there is and the togetherness it brings.  The world gets the importance, but they miss the significance. 

Why is Christmas such a wonderful time? Why is a time to celebrate and a time that brings families together?  The cause for celebration comes only from Christ’s birth, and His life. He gives us a reason to celebrate, and the hope that family togetherness can last beyond this life. 

In thinking about how to keep Christ in Christmas, I am reminded of a scripture in the book of Revelation where Christ is speaking to everyone, “Behold I stand at the door and known, and if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come into him and sup with him and he with me.” 

Unlike the wisemen of old, we do not need to journey far to find Christ; He is always there, on the other side of the door. All we have to do is let him in. 

One of my favorite Christmas songs comes from the forgotten carols. It tells the story of the guilty inn keepers sleepless night after turning away Mary and Joseph form the inn. He ends with these words:

He never would condemn me
I did that all on my own
He offered His forgiveness
And ever since then, I've known
He lets us choose
Each hour of each day
If we'll let Him in to stay

Let Him in
Let Him in
Let the peace on earth begin
Let Him in
Let Him in
Let the hope and joy begin

And whether it be
In your world today
Or a crowded Bethlehem Inn,
Find a way
Make Him room
Let Him in

This Christmas season, amid all the decorating, shopping, and party-going, how can we be sure to find a way, make him room, and let Him in?

I believe there are two things, things we should be doing all year round, but that if we can focus on this season, we can have an added measure of the Christmas spirit in our lives and in our homes. 

1. Learning of Christ

and

2. Loving like Christ.

Christ admonishes, "Learn of me and listen of my words."

Every night in December my family has a tradition of gathering around the Christmas tree, on our Christmas tree quilt. Mom takes down the nativity from the table and Dad gets the Bible. The older children take turns reading and reciting the story of Christ's birth from Luke as the younger ones use the nativity figurines to act out the story. The reading is followed by a plate of cookies - and the one time we're allowed to eat outside of the kitchen. I love the time this gave us to spend together as a family during december. I also loved that by the time we were 4 we knew the Christmas story by heart. It gave us a chance every night to think about why we celebrate Christmas. I know that as we find Christmas traditions that allow us to study the birth, ministry, and sacrifice of Christ, we will feel closer to Him and to each other during this holiday season.

Love

I love this principle especially in the Christmas season. We know that Christ is Love. He is our perfect example of how to love. Love is the most essential principle for us to emulate in becoming like Christ, and inviting His spirit into our lives. 

This time of year we often express our love through the giving of gifts. 

There are three gifts I think we should dwell on:

1. The gift of God to us: His Son.

2. The gifts of Christ to us: forgiveness, grace, eternal life, eternal families

3. Gifts of love to each other

In my family we were never asked what we wanted to get for Christmas. Not once. But weeks before Christmas arrived my mom began asking us what we wanted to give. We spent all season searching for gifts for our family members. When Christmas morning came we were excited to see what we'd get, but because of what we'd been focusing on all season, the true excitement came as we watched the face of each family member as they unwrapped what we hoped would be the perfect gift. As we focus on giving loving gifts - whether they be of service, kind words, or physical things, let us think of what Christ would have us give. 

This is a wonderful time of year to share what you know of Christ with those you love. 

I want you to know that I know there was a babe born of Mary in the town of Bethlehem. I testify of His life and His death, of His power and of His grace. I know that He came to Earth as a mortal because He loves us and He wants us to return to Him. I know that as we focus on Him this holiday season, He will add peace, purpose, and power to our lives. 

Love,

Elisabeth