5 Ways to Make Christmas All About Jesus

I ask myself the question every year.

“Roz, what does Christmas really mean to you? Family time? Giving gifts? A magical atmosphere? Childhood dreams come true?  Deep down inside, what does it really mean?”

You see, for the believer, Christmas should be a reminder of the greatest expression of God’s love. No other religion has this expression.

No other religion claims that their god chose to humble himself to take on the form of mankind. No other god has claimed to suffer at the hands of those who were commanded to worship him. No other god has ever sacrificed himself willingly to save mankind.

And yet, Almighty God did all three.

Yes, Christmas should be one of the greatest celebrations for the believer because it commemorates one of the cornerstones on which our faith is built!


5 Ways We Can Make Christmas All About Jesus

1. Celebrate advent as a family.
   You can find hundreds of ideas on Pinterest for making pretty advent wreaths or calendars. Make it a family project and use the month of December to focus on Jesus’ birth and His reason for coming to earth.
   
   
2. Unwrap the Nativity
   If you have small children, this activity will be very special. Take the main characters from your nativity, and a small mirror, and wrap them up. Each week, unwrap one character and read verses from the Book of Luke surrounding that character. On Christmas morning have your child unwrap the mirror and have your child look into it. Explain to them that what they see in the mirror is what Jesus wants for Christmas.
   
   
3. Enjoy the decorations
   Each Christmas my father would remind us that the gospel message could be found in the decorations. The tree represents Christ’s sacrifice – He hung on a tree. The lights remind us that He is the light of the world. The gifts signify that He gives us the gift of salvation. Before you dive into the presents this year, take a moment to reflect on each of these symbols and their significant message to us.
   
   
4. Look at the colors
   Most of have heard of the wordless book. Look at the colors of Christmas: Red, white, green, gold. They tell the gospel story! Red represents the blood of Jesus that cleanses us from sin. White stands for a pure heart cleansed from sin - the only way we can enter heaven. Green reminds us that as a believer we must grow in Christ. Gold points us to the golden streets of heaven, where we will live eternally with Christ.
   
   
5. Sing carols
   One of the best parts of Christmas is the music. There is no other time of year when you can walk through the mall and hear songs celebrating Christ! Christmas carols, or hymns, carry a strong gospel message and often teach a theological message. One of the best ways to make Christmas all about Jesus is to simply gather together and sing God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Angels We Have Heard on High, Joy to the World, Come Thou Long Expected Jesus, The First Noel, It Came Upon and Midnight Clear, O Come, O Come Emanuel, or even some modern day carols like, Mary Did You Know.   

While it is fun to watch our children’s eyes light up in wonder as they see the gifts under the tree and the streets lit up with pretty lights and decorations, may we never stop reminding them – and ourselves – of the true reason we celebrate Christmas. Let’s not forget to make Christmas all about Jesus!

About Rosilind

Rosilind, a Pacific Northwest native, is a missionary living in Croatia and married to her Bosnian hero. Together they live in the country with their 2 active boys where she enjoys fruity candles, good coffee and a hot cup of herbal tea on a blustery fall evening. Her passion for writing led her to author her best-selling book "The Missional Handbook. At A Little R & R she encourages women to find contentment in what God created them to be. You can also find her at Missional Call where she shares her passion for local and global missions. She can also be found at these other places on a regular basis. You can follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google +. 

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