Make Faith and Love the Reasons You Celebrate Christmas

Sharing is caring!

Do you know why you celebrate Christmas the way you do?

With full calendars and long to-do lists, we can start to panic as we wonder how in the world we’ll get everything done.

Let’s pause for a moment and ask an important question…

Why do I celebrate Christmas?

I did a quick Google search about the “why” of Christmas, and found more questions…

Why do we celebrate Christmas on December 25th?
What is the history of Christmas?
Should Christians Celebrate Christmas?
Is it wrong to celebrate Christmas?

There were lots of facts, details, and history, but that wasn’t what I was looking for.

I wanted to know the consensus answer to “why” we celebrate Christmas; the thoughts and emotions behind the festivities. Why do people invest so much money and energy in this holiday season? 

Why do we shop, bake, decorate, give gifts, and party the way we do?

• To impress our friends?
• To make memories for our children and grandchildren?
• To keep up with the neighbors?
• Because we love it?
• Because it’s a tradition?
• Because it’s expected?
•  Because it’s what everyone else is doing?

Many of us would say we do it to celebrate Jesus’ birth. But do we celebrate the way we do for Him?

In all honesty, I don’t think Jesus cares if our trees are decorated perfectly or if we attend every party. I don’t think He cares if our families are wearing the perfect outfit or if everyone receives the perfect gift.

Do we knock ourselves out for love, or to impress and receive affirmation?

I don’t know about you, but these are questions that make me squirm a little.

If I’m going to invest an entire month out of every year in something, I want to look way past the surface expectations. I want to know the reasons—MY WHY. And that isn’t easy. Especially when we’re so scheduled and overwhelmed that slowing down for even a minute of reflection seems unthinkable.

But I’m doing exactly that because I want Jesus’ Birthday celebration to be filled with quality, not quantity.

I want to make it my goal to really celebrate the birth of the ONE who gave everything for us.

Paul wrote…

When we place our faith in Christ Jesus… What is important is faith expressing itself in love.

Galatians 5:6

For those of us who KNOW, LOVE, and TRUST God through Jesus, two words describe our “why” for Christmas.

FAITH in Jesus and LOVE for Jesus and others!

That’s it! FAITH and LOVE!

Everything else is just stuff.

God sent His Son, Jesus, who willingly gave up the glories of heaven, because of His overwhelming love for the broken and imperfect, the lost and wandering, and the hopeless and helpless—for people like you and me.

The Word became human and made His home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

John 1:14

Jesus entered the restrictions of time and space, brokenness and filth, illness and pain, all because of love!

Love was and is Jesus’ why for Christmas!

Ann Voskamp wrote…

“So God throws open the door of this world—and enters as a baby. As the most vulnerable imaginable. Because He wants unimaginable intimacy with you. What religion ever had a god that wanted such intimacy with us that He came with such vulnerability to us? What God ever came so tender we could touch Him? So fragile that we could break Him? So vulnerable that His bare, beating heart could be hurt? Only the One who loves you to death.”

The Lord invites you and me to trust His love as if our very lives depend on it … because they do. Not just our eternal lives but our everyday lives, even during December.

Let’s pray…

A Prayer to Celebrate Christmas
with FAITH and LOVE

Abba Father, thank you! Thank you for loving us in ways that are beyond our ability to understand. Jesus willingly gave up the glories of heaven for 33 years to live among sinful people. Your Word tells us that we were separated from You because sinful people cannot live in Your presence.

Yet, Jesus came so that through Him, we could be forgiven and live with You forever. Your gracious love overwhelms us. We thank and praise You.

In many ways, we have made the celebration of Jesus’ birth about us more than it is about Him. Some complain that the date chosen was a pagan holiday and that our celebrations are self-indulgent. There is some truth to that, and we ask You to forgive us for our failures.

Please help us, help me, focus on what’s important … my FAITH and LOVE for Jesus and the people around me. May my JOY be focused on sharing Your LOVE. May the reason I celebrate Christmas be about passing on Your gifts of grace, mercy, and love. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

What if it’s okay to give ourselves grace this month? Maybe we don’t have to accomplish everything on our magical Christmas to-do list.

I believe we might actually enjoy our Christmas celebration more if we remember to pause each day for quiet moments, focusing on our faith and Jesus’ love. And if we made every effort to really see the people around us, and show them God’s love and kindness.

We will probably continue many of our family traditions, but let’s know why we do them. May our “why” for celebrating Christmas be to let our FAITH shine with God’s LOVE.

And to…

Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!

2 Corinthians 9:15

May you be blessed as you prepare your heart and home to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus.

We would love to pray for you.
You can leave your prayer requests here…

and even take a few minutes to pray over the list left by our friends.

Never Miss an Update

Leave your email address and I’ll send you a short email every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to alert you to each new devotion. Plus you’ll receive a copy of 30 Ways to Bless Your Marriage and Keep the Spark Burning

I always enjoy hearing from you! Please take a minute to say ‘hi” and share your thoughts in the comments below.

And if this article blessed or helped you today — would you share it with someone? Maybe a friend, family member, coworker, or through the links below…

Thanks again for visiting! Don’t forget to check out the links below to find additional posts that will bless you…

Sharing is caring!