“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.” —1 John 4:9 NIV
The first Christmas after our wedding, my husband and I were surprised by the challenges of maintaining long-held traditions from two different families. Instead of delighting in activities like decorating the house, singing carols, or feasting on our favorite seasonal fare, we found ourselves worrying about which parents would be most understanding about our absence on December 25th and trying to figure out an affordable way to buy gifts for twice as many loved ones. For many years, the Christmas season lost its lustre for us; it signified only stress and tension.
When our own family grew to include three children, we tried to keep the focus on Jesus, “the reason for the season,” by observing Advent, attending Christmas worship services, and reading Luke 2 before opening presents. But even then, it often felt like we were just going through the motions, which made me feel weary, rather than worshipful.
Our Christmases look different today. As our children have all grown and married, my husband and I have relinquished our claim to a specific calendar date for our Christmas gathering because there are now multiple families and twice as many people involved. Though we enjoy the gifts, goodies, and glamour of Christmas, connecting with the people we love matters most to us. We’ll gladly celebrate on any day and sacrifice traditions as long as we can celebrate together.
This shift in our approach to Christmas has restored the peace and wonder of the season, because now, more than ever, I understand the real reason for Jesus’ birth and relate to the heart behind God’s unusual plan.
God sent His Son into the world in human form to live among us—Immanuel—and die a criminal’s death on a cross, despite His innocence, to pay the penalty for our sins. Then, He rose again, conquering sin and death “that we might live through him” (1 John 4:9). This is the gospel. It’s Christmas and Easter, and every day of the year that we wake up with breath in our lungs and hope of eternity with Christ. This is glorious and worth celebrating.
But let’s not miss the first part of 1 John 4:9, the heart behind this good news, the reason for it all, the purpose of Christmas—God loves us. He wants fellowship with us. It’s personal.
Christmas is about love—God’s love for us.
Prepare yourself for the Christmas season by meditating on God’s love, demonstrated through the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When the Christmas chaos spins out of control, holiday details become all-consuming, or you find yourself frazzled or fading, pause to reflect on the real reason for the Christmas season—love.
Christmas is a celebration of God’s love for us.
Additional Scripture:
John 3:16–17
Luke 19:10
1 Timothy 1:15
