What does your “to-do” list look like? Is your calendar full? How many gifts do you still need to buy? Are they wrapped yet? Tree decorated?
Just in those five questions, does your heart tend to race some or skip a beat?
No doubt for all of us, in this season of the year, our calendars tend to pack tightly. Schedules change. Life is full.
However, we must intentionally keep Jesus first. As cliché as it sounds and potentially has become, we must keep Christ in our Christmas celebrations. Let’s be honest, whether you say “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays” is not the real issue. Although I certainly prefer “Merry Christmas,” what you say to another person is not what keeps Jesus first or Christ in Christmas.
Your life, your passion, your focus, and your heart all functioning together determine whether Christ is in your Christmas or not.
The question is simple, is Jesus first in this season?
Jesus First
Consider for a moment the clear and helpful way the Apostle Paul pointed to Jesus Christ’s coming to Earth as the God-man:
4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. (Galatians 4:4-5)
The truth contained in this passage moves our hearts to strive to keep Christ as our first passion during this Christmas season as we celebrate His birth.
Consider the following Key Questions related to Jesus Christ
When did Jesus come? In the fullness of time – exactly in history when God planned for Him to come. Further, Jesus came when God sent Him. God sent His Son, at a great personal loss, to live as the God-man. Celebrating His birth highlights the personal sacrifice made for each of us.
How did Jesus come? Jesus came of a woman and under the law. Of a woman because in order to be a substitutionary atonement for us, He had to be a person like us. Under the law because He had to demonstrate that He was righteous. As God, He was the only one who could live up to those standards.
Why did Jesus come? Jesus came to redeem those under the law and to adopt us as His children. He came to provide salvation for us. Forgiveness of sins is only possible through His life, sacrificial death, substitutionary atonement, and ultimate resurrection. Jesus came to provide for us.
Therefore, remember these two verses as you seek to keep Jesus first today, this week, and throughout the Christmas season.
KevinCarson.com | Wisdom for Life in Christ Together