Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
— Luke 2:13-14
Two women were having lunch in an elegant hotel when their jovialness was noticed by the waiter. So he walked up and said, “Hello, ladies. May I ask if you are celebrating a special occasion with us today?
“Yes, we are,” one of the ladies replied. “We’re celebrating the birth of my new baby boy!”
“That’s wonderful!” the waiter said. “Where is the little one so I can meet him?”
“Oh,” replied the lady, “You didn’t think I’d actually bring him with me, did you?”
And there you have a picture of the way much of the world—yes, even the church oftentimes—treats Jesus at Christmas. People get so caught up in the traditions of the season that they confuse them with the real meaning of Christmas itself.
But why is there such a propensity to leave Christ out of Christmas? Well, if the Christ of Christmas is really God made flesh, then we have a tremendous responsibility to share that important news with others. But many people don’t want to think about that responsibility, so they just go about their celebrations with little focus on the Lord.
Christmas is a call to declare the glory of God and the peace He offers humanity through His Son. Yes, we celebrate the gift we’ve received. But we do so knowing there are many who haven’t received it yet. Keeping Christ in Christmas means doing the work of sharing Him with others. Make that your focus this Christmas!
Prayer Challenge
Pray that God would give you a burden for those missing His grace this Christmas.
Questions for Thought
How does it make you feel that much of the world today has never heard the message of Christ?
What lesson can you take away from Christmas that will give you a heart to share God’s message of hope and peace with more people in the coming year?