Christmas is one of the most anticipated festivals around the world. This is the time when people will gather together and celebrate Christmas. Families will visit one another, and churches will have Christmas programs. People buy gifts for their loved ones or get exchange gifts for their friends and coworkers. Christmas has become one of the busiest times of the year. According to usafacts.org, December was the highest-spending season month from 1992 to 2022, and November was the second-highest month for Black Friday. However, Christmas has become the loneliest month of the year. Losing someone, breakups, broken families, family issues, family separations, divorce, singleness, isolation, sickness, losing jobs and possessions, financial difficulties, tragic situations, work pressure, or relentless business are the reasons that the Christmas season can be the loneliest month of the year. People are looking for gifts and relationships that can give them peace and happiness; however, they can never find satisfaction, and the cycle keeps on circling around.
The biggest reason for all of these is that people lost the meaning of Christmas in their hearts and minds. The meaning of Christmas is not about giving and receiving gifts or being with families and loved ones, but Christmas is about God giving us His only Son to save us from our sins. John 3:16-17 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him." The very foundation of Christmas is God's love towards us, so no matter what is going on in our lives this Christmas season, we need to remind ourselves that God loves us. We have to set our hearts and minds towards God, who can give us peace and comfort this Christmas. When we put God first this Christmas and realize that we are loved and accepted by Him, we will see Christmas in a different light.
We are the object of Christ's love at Christmas. It is about God loving us. It is about God showing His greatest love towards us, and He gave us the greatest gift of all—His one and only Son, Jesus Christ. We are loved, forgiven, and accepted because of the gift that God has given us, and this is the reason we celebrate Christmas. The rest is secondary.
Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you). Why do I celebrate Christmas? Where do I find peace and comfort during Christmas? What is the most important thing to remember at Christmas?
Write down all the worries you face today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, I praise you and glorify your name for reminding me this morning that I am the object of your love at Christmas. It is not so much about me giving, but it is about receiving your greatest gift. Lord Jesus, you are the greatest gift that I ever received. Thank you for coming into my life as my Lord and Savior. Through you, I have been changed, forgiven, and renewed. Thank you for everything that you have done in my life. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.