One of the most popular Christmas songs is “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” Unfortunately, for many, this religious holiday is the busiest time of the year. Some people become tired and complacent while shopping in crowded malls for the perfect gifts to give loved ones, baking dozens of sweet treats for cookie swaps, and attending countless parties.
Sadly, amidst all of the hustle and bustle of the season, it’s often too easy to forget the real reason for this sacred holiday. The following tips can help Christian families keep Christ in Christmas this year.
#1: Give God a Special Christmas Gift
As the wise men presented the baby Jesus with gifts to celebrate His birth, Christians should consider giving God a special Christmas gift this season. Think about gifting God with something that is both personal and a sacrifice. For instance, believers could choose to forgive someone they’ve been knowingly holding a grudge against. Or, they might decide to let go of a dream they’ve held onto, but know isn’t God’s will for their lives. Committing to spend quality time with God through prayer and devotions daily is another great idea.
#2: Set Up a Nativity Scene at Home
Certainly, there’s nothing wrong with Christians decorating their homes with festive snowmen, mistletoe, and jolly Santa Claus figurines. However, setting up a nativity scene is a wonderful way to keep Christ at the forefront in the home. Christians should think about putting this meaningful decoration in a prominent place like the mantle where everyone will see it each day.
#3: Read the Actual Story of Christmas
No Christian family’s holiday activities should be complete without reading the Christmas story. Establish a special time and place to read about the miraculous birth of Jesus in Luke 1:5-56 and Luke 2:1-20. After reading this beautiful account, discuss it with family members.
#4: Send Christmas Cards with Religious Messages
Even in today’s high-tech society, sending out Christmas cards is still a tradition many Christians keep. To keep Christ in Christmas, believers should send friends, family members, and others holiday cards with religious messages. Dispensing cards with Bible verses or Christian artwork might be especially meaningful and enlightening to someone who isn’t a believer.
#5: Decorate a Christmas Tree with Christian Ornaments
Rather than filling their Christmas trees with ornaments depicting favorite Disney characters, colorful glass balls, and red ribbons, believers should consider decorating them exclusively with religious ornaments.
#6: Bake a Birthday Cake for Jesus
Baking a birthday cake for Jesus is a wonderful, tangible way to honor the reality of the Savior’s birth. It’s also a fantastic way to make the Christmas story come alive for kids.
#7: Give Family Members Gifts of Service
Christ’s ministry taught us the importance of serving others. The Savior of the world gave us a great example of service when He washed His disciples’ feet. This Christmas, Christians can demonstrate Jesus’s love by presenting gifts of service to family members. For instance, a kid might want to give his or her parents certificates promising to wash the dinner dishes for a month, clean out a cluttered attic, or babysit a younger sibling one weekend. A husband may wish to give his wife a week free of dinner preparations. A wife might benefit her husband by providing him with a week void of cellphone interruptions.
#8: Invite Someone to Church
Christmas is the season to share the love of Christ with others, especially those who aren’t believers. Consider inviting a friend or family member to church who’s not a churchgoer. He or she may feel less intimidated to visit a place of worship if the service is Christmas related.
The Christmas season should be a vitally integral part of every believer’s year. Make keeping Christ in Christmas a priority this year by following the aforementioned tips.
~ 1776 Christian
