Christmas: Biggest Blessing and Greatest Threat

We come to Christmas time again as we do every December. It’s colder. Some snow falls. Certain festive events occur. Decorations go up. What is the biggest blessing and the greatest threat at Christmas? Let me start with the blessing.

Jesus Christ is the most important figure in world history and to everyone personally. During this month, it’s easier to talk about Jesus, if we are willing to do that. The biggest blessing relates to the greatest threat, which is that all the other stuff in December distracts from Jesus Christ. We can lose the biggest blessing because of the greatest threat.

The Christmas decorations and events could distract you from Jesus Christ in at least two ways. The most obvious distraction is focusing on the wrong things. Jesus started the church. You get away from church, of which He is the head. Instead of spending time in the Word of Christ, what Paul calls scripture in Colossians, you use your time for temporal, superficial things. To focus on Jesus Christ, read the Bible, pray, be in every service, and talk about the Lord in an evangelistic way. He came to save His people from their sins.

A second underrated distraction is to fight against what really are liberties people have at Christmas. The Bible does not prohibit holly, trees, lights, cookies, good music, gifts, wrapping paper, tinsel, stockings, and the colors, red and green. Some of these could distract, which reverts to the first distraction. However, it’s also distracting to get upset about people doing things that the Bible does not prohibit. They could distract, but they’re not wrong. They’re a liberty. Talk about Jesus, focus on Him, and exult in His true birth story. Do that instead.