I love Christmas. I love the lights, the meals, the music, the gift surprises, and the family traditions. These things are gifts to be enjoyed. But Romans 1:25 gives us a gentle caution: “They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator - who is forever praised. Amen.” Christmas traditions are not the problem, the danger comes only when we stop at the traditions, rather than letting them point to the One they’re really about.
Christmas traditions should be like signposts. The Christmas fruit cake should point us to the Bread of Life. The fun gift exchanges should point us to the Gift of grace. The lights on our houses should remind us that Jesus is the Light of the world. The Christmas parties and gatherings should echo the God who gathers His people to Himself.
The point isn’t to push aside these traditions, it’s to allow them to elevate our worship. When we unwrap gifts, we can remember the God who wrapped Himself in humanity. When we sing carols, we can imagine the angels singing over shepherds. When we decorate our homes, we can celebrate that God came to make His home among us.
Instead of rejecting the created joys of Christmas, we can redeem them, reframe them, and redirect them.
So this year, I hope we savor the season. Drink the hot chocolate. Enjoy the laughter. Sit by the fire. Watch the movies. Take in the lights. And through all of it, may our hearts whisper again and again: Thank You, Jesus. You came for us.
Grace and peace this Christmas, may everything we love about this season move us deeper into love for the One we celebrate.
Peace,
Nick
Christmas traditions should be like signposts. The Christmas fruit cake should point us to the Bread of Life. The fun gift exchanges should point us to the Gift of grace. The lights on our houses should remind us that Jesus is the Light of the world. The Christmas parties and gatherings should echo the God who gathers His people to Himself.
The point isn’t to push aside these traditions, it’s to allow them to elevate our worship. When we unwrap gifts, we can remember the God who wrapped Himself in humanity. When we sing carols, we can imagine the angels singing over shepherds. When we decorate our homes, we can celebrate that God came to make His home among us.
Instead of rejecting the created joys of Christmas, we can redeem them, reframe them, and redirect them.
So this year, I hope we savor the season. Drink the hot chocolate. Enjoy the laughter. Sit by the fire. Watch the movies. Take in the lights. And through all of it, may our hearts whisper again and again: Thank You, Jesus. You came for us.
Grace and peace this Christmas, may everything we love about this season move us deeper into love for the One we celebrate.
Peace,
Nick