Christmas Priorities – MM #178

During this Christmas season, we’re seeing people work in deliberate ways to take CHRIST out of CHRISTmas. Great effort is being put forth to make sure there is no room for Jesus publicly —even at Christmas. This is the holiday we’ve openly celebrated for so many years to honor His birth! There is an obvious change going on in this world concerning Christmas priorities.

So now, just as it was so many years ago when Jesus came to this earth, there is to be found, no room for Him. Previously, there was no room in the Inn. But now there is no room in the hearts and lives of so many people.

The question begs to be addressed, however —what about the Christ OF Christmas? What about the child who was born in a manger? Who is He to you? Do you show by how you live that Jesus is a priority to you?

Christmas Priorities

In many people’s life it seems that as long as Christ behaves himself and remains like a babe born in a manger, cute and innocent —not interfering in how we live out our lives beyond this season, celebrating Christmas seems like a nice tradition —one many will even fight to keep.

Not too many of us who believe in God are threatened by an innocent baby. We will fight for a baby. But will we expend the same effort to put Christ into His rightful place beyond Christmas?

Jesus —who is God, came to us in human form. He was born in a manger, “meek and mild.” But He also grew up to become Savior and wants to be LORD of our lives. He wasn’t born to remain in the form of a baby. Jesus eventually grew into a man in human form. He died on a cross, bearing upon Himself all we have done which we shouldn’t, to save us from ourselves.

Jesus then victoriously rose from the dead. This is so that as we believe and accept Him as Savior and Lord, we also can have victory over sin and the death of eternal separation from God. But now, Jesus Christ is asking us to make Him not only Savior, but also Lord of our lives.

Question and Challenge

The question is, “how about you? Are you experiencing all Christ has for you throughout the year—beyond Christmas?” As followers of Jesus Christ, we should celebrate Christ coming to this earth. This should be our priority not only at Christmas time, but throughout the year.

Our challenge to you —in the midst of all of your “busyness” and running throughout the rest of the Christmas season—is to remember the following three points. These are ones we gleaned from some resources we used a number of years ago. Please prayerfully consider how they apply to your marriage:

“Beware of running FROM the CHRIST of CHRISTMAS, as King Herod did.”

King Herod (the king of that day) had the opportunity to worship the real “KING of KINGS.” But he was too caught up in wanting things his way. So he closed his eyes, denied, and tried to destroy the Truth! But the Bible says there will come a day when “Every Knee with bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” We can only deny Christ his Lordship for so long!

As you think about the Christ of Christmas and the New Year coming before you, our hope is that you will quit trying to make your life work just for you. We encourage you to instead ask God to show you how to make your life work so that He is truly Lord of your life and your marriage.

You can’t separate both truths. If you aren’t making Him Lord of your marriage, He isn’t Lord of your life. Human marriage is a living example of the relationship between the Bridegroom —Jesus Christ, and His bride (the church). Do you get the connection there? Are you doing your part in trying to live that connection? Or are you running from that connection —denying it by your lifestyle choices in how you treat your spouse?

Also:

“Beware of running THROUGH Christmas, as the Innkeeper did.”

The Innkeeper, involved in the story of Jesus’ birth, was so busy that at first, he made no room for the Christ of Christmas. And later, he made Him of sideline importance, accommodating Him a little, at least. It can be the same for us in the world of distractions we live in today. We can become too busy for Him, putting Him off to the sidelines in our focus. We can say that we are a Christ follower, but do our priorities show that we are?

It is our plea that you don’t let that, which is least important crowd out that, which should be most important. Look for ways to intentionally show your love, beyond material things, to your God and to your spouse. Keep in mind that your spouse is God’s child. (This is true whether or not he or she lives like that is true. Remember the prodigal son?)

And finally, in your Christmas priorities and beyond:

“BE WISE AND RUN TO THE CHRIST OF CHRISTMAS as the shepherds and wise men did!”

MAKE the time to worship the Christ of Christmas now and throughout the year! He IS the reason for the season and our hope for now and forever.

Something we’ve seen hold true is, “if we strive to seek the Light of Christ —rather than strive to be right (in our own eyes), we’ll find that a lot of our relational problems will resolve themselves.” It comes down to the fact that, WISE MEN and WOMEN STILL SEEK HIM TODAY.

Christ may not get the attention He deserves this side of heaven from a majority of people in this world. And sadly, even we may not make Him the priority He should be in our lives during this season and beyond. But with or without our participation, He WILL get the attention He deserves someday. Hopefully, “From this day forward” we will live our lives within our marriages so we will not have regrets and will honor Him rightly.

A beautiful Christmas card we received contained a good reminder for us all:

“Only a few heard the music when He arrived.

BUT THE CELEBRATION WILL BE DEAFENING WHEN HE RETURNS!”

It is our deepest hope that you will: CELEBRATE the CHRIST of Christmas now, so you can truly celebrate later.

CELEBRATE CHRIST —Not just at Christmas
—in your heart, in your home, and wherever you are!

Have a blessed CHRISTmas!

Cindy and Steve Wright

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