At this time of the year, people often talk about the feeling of Christmas and all too often that has nothing to do with what Christmas is supposed to be about. We hear about this one time for the year where people try to be more generous and speak of peace. We all decorate, cook, eat, buy gifts and spend time with family and friends. But do we really think of what Christmas really means? So many people who do not believe in the truth about Christmas still celebrate it but are many of us missing the mark.

If you really look into it, the history of Christmas is secular in nature and has nothing to do with Jesus. But to many, it has become a celebration of the birth of Christ.

Luke 1:26-38; 2:1-7

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.  And he came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art ^[l]highly favored, the Lord is with thee^[m].But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this might be.  And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found ^[n]favor with God.And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:and he shall reign over the house of Jacob ^[o]for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.  And Mary said unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: wherefore also ^[p]the holy thing which is begotten ^[q]shall be called the Son of God.  And behold, Elisabeth thy kinswoman, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that ^[r]was called barren.For no word from God shall be void of power.And Mary said, Behold, the ^[s]handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

Now it came to pass in those days, there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrolment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to enrol themselves, every one to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David; to enrol himself with Mary, who was betrothed to him, being great with child. And it came to pass, while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Luke tells us the account of Mary discovering this strange news of her virgin pregnancy, and later the birth of her son Jesus. Thinking of this account reminds me of what it meant that Jesus came. I do not want to join in the festivities of typical Christmas where I can so easily forget about Christ. But I do believe it’s a matter of the heart. I want to set my heart on Christ at this time of the year and make an effort to celebrate the gift of salvation that God has given us. He has given us new life by sending his son as a man to die in place of us so that we can live. And that is what resonates with me at Christmas time. And so I have no issues with using the time to celebrate the fact that Jesus came and was born as a man and then went on to save us all. But I actively try not to get caught up in the traditions of secular Christmas where we can so easily forget about Christ in it all.