It seems like everyone urges taking time for reflection at Christmas … but hardly anyone takes it.  Even those who encourage it!

The Christmas “obligations” are many and seem daunting.

Putting up the Christmas tree and decking the halls and the house, inside and out, with decorations and brightly-colored lights.  Writing the “Christmas letter” and sending out the Christmas cards.  Assembling the shopping list, purchasing all the presents and then wrapping them.  Attending the special Christmas work and school parties, and arranging the family get-togethers.  (How many gatherings are there, and how many are gathering?  Who goes where?  And when?  And who brings what?)  Christmas baking and Christmas cooking.  Not to mention, the inevitable and formidable Christmas cleanups!  (Usually plural.)

It’s a wonderful time of the year … and a stressful one as well.  Typically busy and not necessarily peaceful.

Which leads me to this outrageous statement: while most of the traditional Christmas activities are certainly wholesome, they are not necessarily beneficial.  At least not spiritually beneficial.  And therefore one might wonder how God-pleasing those activities even are.

Despite what many in the world proclaim and believe, Christmas is a Christian holiday.  Christmas literally means “Christ-worship.”  It’s the time of year we worship Christ our Savior – born to die for us. 

At least, that’s what it is supposed to be.  But that is not what it often turns out to be … even for Christians.

Here’s another hard statement: the Lord takes no pleasure in our frantic Christmas busyness.  But the devil certainly does!  The more we focus on the externals of the season and the less we focus on worshiping Christ, the better our spiritual enemies like it and the more concerning it becomes to our God.

Undoubtedly there is joy to be found in the usual “obligations” of the season.  In the preparing and the decorating and the gathering and the opening.  But it is a superficial and temporary joy.  Anticipation is exciting and memories are precious, but in the end – the literal end when our life concludes – they are meaningless.

All that will matter at that time is whether we know our Savior Jesus … born to die for us, and risen victoriously back to life.  Is He the King of our heart?  Do we recognize he saved our soul?

Am I advocating for the tossing away of the Christmas usuals?  Not at all!  I’m simply urging that we don’t lose sight of the real reason for the season, and that we take time (make time!) for the most important aspect of Christmas – worshiping Christ. 

Decorating home and hearth?  Of course!  But even more importantly, being sure to adorn our hearts and minds with God’s Word!

Time with family and friends?  Definitely!  But a quantity of quality time with the Lord as well, our Father, our Brother and our Comforter!

Holiday parties?  Undoubtedly!  But also gathering together with God’s people in God’s House to celebrate the newborn Savior!

Feeding the body?  Sure!  But designating time for feeding the soul too!

Watching classic Christmas shows?  By all means!  But making sure there are also moments of rapt focus on the Baby in the manger.

You get the idea.  And realize that I am writing as much to myself as to anyone.  For a pastor, this is one of the busiest times of the year, so I of all people need to take this to heart. 

Christmas should be a time of peaceful joy.  Our Savior was born for us, and this is profound.  Something that demands reflection and appreciation.  And when we embrace the essence of Christmas, it actually becomes a time of peaceful joy.

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Philippians 4:4-7, 9
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. … And the God of peace will be with you.