Thanksgiving is over, and we have turned the corner to Christmas. For some, it will be no different than any other day. They do not celebrate Christmas because they do not believe in the Christ of Christmas. Others may be of another religion that believes He was a good man because of the miracles performed. News of miracles travels fast and is passed down in story form from one generation to another. Therefore, to those, He is known as a good man or prophet. Let me take a sidetrack here. Most of us would agree that a liar is not a good man; therefore, because of His claims to be God in the flesh, this would disqualify Him as a good person who did good things. If you do not believe He was the Son of God in the flesh, then He is either a liar, or the most incredible con artist, or He is who He said he was. In John 10:30, he declares that “I and my Father are one.” In John 8:58, “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” The Jews knew the “I Am” was a reference to God. Upon hearing these words, the Jews knew he was saying He was equal to God, the Great I Am in Exodus 3:14. He was claiming preexistence. He was telling them He was Yahweh, the great I Am. There are many other proofs in scripture, but this is about a family Christmas and how we celebrate it in 2025. While the proof was not about Christmas, it still gives us a reason to celebrate.
Exodus 3:14 “And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.”
Most families around the world celebrate Christmas in some way. In America, we usually have a big meal shared with loved ones and friends. Some do this on Christmas Eve so their children can play with the toys they receive the next day. I know families who take time on Christmas to serve homeless or very poor people a hot meal that is a little more special than the normal food served on other days. This is a good way to share the love of Christ. In John 3:16, we see that He came to earth for everyone, so that all could be saved, not for just a few who seemed to have it all together. He loved, He came, and He offers eternal life to all who will believe in Him, place their faith in Him, and live in obedience to Him.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Maybe you or someone in your family is not saved, but this person loves Christmas. For them, their love stems from the programs for kids at church; they attend them because it is a family affair. Those in this category only go to church for the “special” stuff. They go to watch their kids or grandchildren because they love them. They love the special meals and family gatherings. They love watching others open gifts, and this makes them happy. They enjoy all the pageantry that accompanies this holiday. They have a soft heart for the baby in a manger, but He does not own their heart. The Bible is clear that we are to love the Lord Jesus with everything that is within us.
Mark 12:30 “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”
For some, it is a tradition to go to church at Easter and Christmas. They believe they should go on some of the special days to show others that they are “part of the church.” They have no problem doing good deeds for their neighbors or getting involved in community events.
Because of their good deeds, they feel they are earning points with God. While, as Christians, we are supposed to do good to others, that is not what earns us entrance into Heaven. Ephesians 2:8-9, make that very clear. We do not earn our salvation; it is a gift by God’s grace and through our faith in Him. Once we are saved, we should want to work because He created us for that in verse 10. We do not work FOR our salvation; we work FROM our salvation. We do it because we are thankful for what He has done for us.
Ephesians 2:8-10 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
After examination of your own Christmas, where do you fit? Is it more about the family than about the birth of Christ? If not, do your actions reflect that? Do you miss church services to have “Christmas lunch or dinner” with the family? Is your calendar filled with fun things to do, things that are traditions that come first? Are you sure you know the Christ of Christmas, or do you just know about Him? Do you make excuses to miss services all year long, but get excited when it is Christmas? What does your family Christmas look like? Is it Christ-filled, or is it a long list of traditions and family time? There is nothing wrong with traditions; just make sure your family’s Christmas is more about Him. Spend some time with the family in His word. Read the real Christmas story. It is a good time to teach them why He came. It is time they understood Christmas is about Jesus, not just the fun stuff we have planned.
