It's the Most Stressful Time of the YearSample

Self-Centered

John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."

It's telling that we have to be reminded to "Keep Christ in Christmas" because if we don't, He tends to drop down the list. The season is described as the most wonderful time of the year and full of time with family and friends. 

So why is it so stressful?

Because we make it about us when it is supposed to be focused on the birth of Christ. 

We fill our off hours with party plans, who's cooking what, did I get all my shopping done, and much more. Then, we fill our working hours to pay for all of that stuff. We may attend church for a shortened service that we blow by on our way to a Christmas party.

Where is Jesus in all of this? We've taken a day that should be focused on the birth of our Savior and turned the focus elsewhere. 

Celebrating Jesus with family and friends is wonderful but may not be the main reason for the get-together.

One Christmas, we had family over, and sometime after the meal, we pulled out a birthday cake. A person at the party asked, "Whose birthday is it?" I said we are celebrating the birth of Jesus. Her face was one of confusion and fear. I guess she thought, "What a bunch of weirdos." But we celebrated it.

Someone at work was so put off that his grandmother always signed the card on his gifts with "Merry CHRISTmas." 

I've been in some homes that were Santa Claus from top to bottom, but not a single reference to Jesus. 

There is a place for Christmas parties, family, friends, gifts, and food. But there should be a concerted focus on Jesus at Christmas because, as you can see, that may be the only place some see Jesus. I don't know what that person took from our get-together that year, but I bet she told someone. I hope that person informed her that they celebrated Jesus at Christmas as well. Maybe all she needed to see was other people focused on Jesus to change her perspective.

 Uncommen Questions
:

Do you keep Christ in Christmas? 

What changes can you make to focus on Jesus more during this time of year?

Do you celebrate Jesus with friends and family during Christmas?

 

Uncommen Challenge:

I challenge us all not to be self-centered and put the focus of Christmas back where it should be: on Jesus.