As believers, we know that Jesus is the reason for Christmas. Yet we live in a world that has become too busy and too politically correct for Jesus at Christmas. We have Christmas cards, cookies, lights, mistletoe, ornaments, parades, parties, shopping, songs, stockings, traditions, and trees. We have the Elf on the Shelf, Frosty the Snowman, Mr. Grinch, Rudolph, Santa Claus, and everyone else. But what about Jesus?
Modern society is not so different from Bethlehem, which Luke 2:7 said had “no room for them in the inn.” We have filled our lives with so much commercialization, festivity, and secularization, that there is no room left for Jesus. It’s like having a month-long party in which the Guest of Honor is ignored or left outside in the cold. And deep within ourselves, we know it isn’t right. We need to make room for Jesus.
You don’t have to stop everything happening around you. There’s nothing wrong with celebrating Christmas in a big way. But among all the hustle and bustle, at some point, we have to make room for Jesus. We need to take time to be still and consider His coming. We must never lose sight of the magnitude of what Jesus accomplished by coming to earth at Christmas.
We have to renew our sense of awe and wonder at the King who loved us so much that He set aside His glory and splendor to come to earth. The Creator of the universe chose to live among us and die for us because of His great love for us. Not only that, but He’s coming back. We should strengthen our expectation of His return. Christmas is a time of celebration and preparation. We must make room for Jesus.
As you celebrate Christmas, keep the focus on Jesus. As you place the angel or star on top of your tree, meditate on its significance to the story of our Savior’s birth. Read the Christmas story in the Bible as you set up the Nativity scene. Turn off the background music and worship by singing some Christmas hymns. Walk outside at night, looking up at the same stars the shepherds were watching when the angel brought them the best news ever heard. Whatever you do, make sure you keep Jesus at the forefront of your celebrations. Make room for Jesus this Christmas!
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