During this season of shopping and entertaining, let’s remember why Christmas is celebrated in the first place. We decorate our homes, send out cards, visit friends, buy presents, and go caroling. Some celebrate Christmas Day watching football games. For some, it’s a time for drinking and partying. But this is a holiday to honor the fact that God sent His Son to be born in a manger and to become our Savior. As Christians, we should celebrate in a unique way.
Following the birth of Christ, the announcement by the angels, and visit by the shepherds, I see four responses…
Witness About Christ.
And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. (Luke 2:17)
The shepherds “made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.” We’re to make Jesus known to those around us and help them understand that He came as a Savior. There are many opportunities available during Christmas. We can witness through the cards we send out. We witness by how we decorate our homes. We witness through the seasonal music we sing. And we witness by inviting people to attend church services with us. Many will come at this season of the year that would never darken our doors otherwise. Be intentional about sharing Christ this Christmas.
Wonder at Christ.
And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. (Luke 2:18)
Those who heard the shepherds wondered at the things told them. Christmas is a wonderful time to think and wonder. Here is a story of purity wrapped up in the birth of a Child born to a young mother. Here is a great announcement to a lowly group of shepherds. Here is a Baby born to die. Here is a King born in stable to poor parents, yet was God manifest in flesh. G. Campbell Morgan wrote, “In the presence of such a holy miracle, there can be no fitting attitude of the human intellect save that of acceptance of the truth without any attempt to explain the mystery.”
3. Wait before Christ.
But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. (Luke 2:19)
We also celebrate Christmas by waiting before Christ, even as Mary pondered all these things in her heart. The word ponder is even more intense than wonder. It means to delve beneath the surface and to contemplate, trying to understand. Mary thought deeply about what was happening in her life. It’s easy to become so busy during Christmas that we don’t spend time in personal Bible study and prayer. We can let the outward celebrations of the holiday take us away from the one thing that could mean the most to us as Christians. We have to make time for waiting before God.
4. Worship Christ.
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. (Luke 2:20)
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God. I believe Christmas affords tremendous opportunities for glorifying God as we sing our wonderful carols, as we pray personally, quietly praise Him, and publicly worship. To celebrate Christmas we’ve got to take a step back from the busyness of the season and the materialism of the world and focus on Him!
Years ago in a European country, a christening took place for a baby who had been born to royalty. As the guests arrived, a servant met them at the door and took their wraps. Eventually someone asked, “Where’s the baby?” The nurse was sent to fetch him, but she couldn’t find him. Finally, a guest recalled having seen the baby in the bed where the coats had been placed. The parents were horrified to find there the lifeless form of their son who had been smothered under the pile of coats. What irony. The real purpose of the gathering had been forgotten and the one to be honored was killed. I wonder if that isn’t true for many at this time of year. Jesus is our celebration. He is our Honored One. He is our King. This year let’s honor Him by witnessing, wondering, waiting before Him and worshiping Him!
You can read other Christmas articles: Learning from the Shepherds at Christmas, Learning from Joseph at Christmas, 5 Ways to Make this your Best Christmas Ever,