True Christmas

I began to reflect on Christmas and its meaning and I realized I have a few false ideas about it. The first one is this idea of being naughty or nice. Who hasn’t heard the statement, “He’s making a list, and checking it twice; gonna find out who’s naughty and nice. Santa Claus is coming to town.” I have to admit there are times when I have thought, “I’ve been too naughty to receive any Christmas gifts. Or even bigger, I’ve sinned way too much to receive God’s love and forgiveness. I’ve done more bad than good.”

Every year I didn’t deserve Christmas. I never measured up to Santa’s standard nor God’s standard. Yet, it was my parents who showed me God’s unconditional love. Even though I didn’t deserve any good gift, let alone forgiveness, my parents always gave me several Christmas gifts. And even bigger, God has forgiven me and cleansed my heart from all unrighteousness. Christ showed me grace, despite my fallenness. Christ died for me, while I was still a sinner. Rom. 9:16 says, “So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.”

The Gospel is never about trying to be good enough or trying to earn God’s favor. We would never be good enough and God knows that. And if His blessings were dependent upon me being nicer than naughty I would never pass the test. I would receive what I truly deserve, a lump of coal, but even worse, I would deserve hell. BUT GOD, showed me mercy and gave me the gift of eternal life when I could never earn it or deserve it. Now that’s Christmas!

Christmas is about unconditional love, come down from heaven, Jesus putting on flesh to die on a cross for our sins, so we can be set free from this rat race of trying to hit the mark. Jesus hit the mark and that’s why we trust in Him; that’s why Christmas is so amazing! Wouldn’t it be “nice” if I were more like Jesus? Maybe this Christmas I should think less about measuring up and more about treating someone the way Christ treated me? Maybe Christmas is showing someone unconditional love, or blessing them when they don’t deserve it? And maybe I should do that not to impress God, but to show the kindness of God to someone who isn’t deserving?

The second false idea I have about Christmas is this idea that says, I’m guilty and should be ashamed of myself for not giving a Christmas donation or helping the homeless, or buying someone a present. There’s nothing wrong with giving, after all, it’s the season of giving.

But Christmas isn’t about shaming us or making us feel guilty. If I decide to not put a dollar in the Salvation Army bucket, am I a scrooge? Maybe so, but maybe Christmas isn’t about me trying to save every cause or rescue every homeless person. I can’t meet every need. I can’t feed every person. There are too many needs and I would never have enough resources. It’s a good thing I’m not the Savior.

Maybe Christmas isn’t about me trying to be a mini savior. Maybe Christmas is more about focusing on Jesus who IS the Savior. Jesus gave His life so that I can be saved from sin and death. Only Jesus can save the world. So, when I fall short in my giving, instead of living in guilt or shame, maybe I should rest in the grace of God? Maybe I can give with a different thought in mind. I give, not out of guilt or shame, but out of love and thanksgiving.

I give cheerfully and without compulsion. I give knowing that God can use my giving as He chooses for His glory, not mine. I give knowing that it’s enough because my hope is in Christ and not me. That’s Christmas! Christmas sets me free from all guilt and shame! Now I can give and serve as Jesus did.

The third false idea I have about Christmas is everything must be perfect in order for it to be Christmas. The gifts I get must be perfect. The gifts I give must be perfect. My Christmas lights must be perfect. The tree, the house, the food, the kids, the weather, the dog, the cats, the family picture, on and on and on, it has to be perfect. How wrong is that! Yet I think it.

If 2020 has taught me anything, life isn’t perfect. We live in a broken world. Things will go wrong and something will break. There’s no such thing as perfect, unless we’re talking about Christmas, that is, Jesus. Now He’s perfect. It’s His birthday. Why do I act like its mine? Christmas has nothing to do with me.

My hope is in Jesus. He lived the perfect life I could never live. Jesus was born incarnate, which means He was born in the virgin Mary. His mother is Mary, but His Father is God. So, Jesus is fully God and fully man. He is human and sinless. He’s God in the flesh. He’s perfect, holy, and the only one able to save sinners. That’s Christmas!

Christmas isn’t about me and my attempts at perfection; its about Jesus and “His blessings flowing far as the curse is found!” Maybe this Christmas I should focus on the perfect baby in the manger and less on my pity parties or my so-called grand achievements. Look what Jesus did for me! This baby was born to die on a cross so that I can be born again and have everlasting life! That’s what makes Christmas great.

Christmas isn’t great because I have an appearance of perfection, it’s great because Jesus entered my sin darkened world and brought me into the light and saved my soul. He’s the perfect Savior! Jesus was born to save me from sin and death, but He also came to save me from my many false ideas about Christmas. The Gospel has set me free! So now, I can have a true Christmas!

I hope this Christmas you will experience the unconditional, perfect love of God who gave His only Son to die for you and rise from the dead, so you have can the greatest gift of all, everlasting life! Merry Christmas!