Christmas is a peculiar time of year. All of a sudden the music changes and we begin to sing Christmas songs. There is some discrepancy as to when the music is allowed to change. I heard on the radio today that some like the music to start closer to Christmas day and some like it to start back in November and some before that. One radio station played Christmas music on the 25th of each month. It seems that Christmas has become about the music. This is where the focus on Christmas is a little odd. Christmas is a celebration that should be taking place all year long. The lights we put up should be shining all year long, as we are the light of the world. Matthew 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” We celebrate together with parties and work events and family gatherings. Again this is something we should be doing all year long. Hebrews 10:24-26 “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Our focus during this time of year in the church becomes very attentive to the Saviour our King especially if you participate in Advent, which again this focus should be happening all year long. Here in Canada this Christmas season helps us focus on the majesty of Jesus. The beauty after a fresh snowfall is hard to match. The lights under the snow twinkling, the snow dangling on the branches has a pureness to it. What a great season Christmas is but there is far more reason to celebrate for more than just a few weeks. We need to have a Christmas mind-set. It would really help us when the January and February blahs hit us.
The church is always talking about getting Jesus back into the season. It is true Jesus is missing, as is the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Not only do we need Jesus back into Christmas we need him to be the reason for the year. There has always been Christmas and Easter Christians. These are the big two to participate in. The next level of commitment comes from those who focus on Jesus only on Sunday. Many people are Sunday Christians but through the week Jesus is not on their mind or part of their life. Many are upset about Jesus missing at Christmas but this is very similar to many who want prayer back into the schools but the bigger issue is to get prayer back into the home. The bigger problem here is that we need Jesus all year long not just at Christmas. Hebrews 10 goes on to say “32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. 34 You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. 35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For, “In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.” 38 And, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” 39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved. Jesus definitely is the reason for the season but should be the reason for this year and the next and so on until the day of judgement comes.
