Read: Deuteronomy 6:1-9

Last week I talked about Santa, this week I’m talking about Jesus.  I think we all know which one of those is the most important message of Christmas.  The question we need to ask ourselves though is “which parts of Christmas are we making the most important?”  Our culture has pushed gifts, tree’s, decorations, candy, and numerous other things as must haves at Christmas.  But what about Jesus?  Christian friends, I think that is going to be up to us.

Deuteronomy 6:1-9 is not exactly a Christmas passage.  However, it does remind us of the importance of telling our children, grandchildren, and others about the reasons for our belief, faith, and observances.  When it comes to Christmas are impressing the true meaning of the season on our children?  Are we talking about this reason for the season when we sit around the Christmas tree?  Are we decorating in ways that write this message on the doorframes of our homes?  All of those things are encouraged in Deuteronomy 6 even if the birth of Jesus is not the focus of those verses.

I am all for embracing the many wonderful ways that we celebrate Christmas.  I said as much last week when I talked about Santa.  But as Christians we must always keep the most important message of Christmas as our main message of the season.  It’s sometimes too easy to get caught up in all of the “other things” of Christmas that we don’t focus enough on “the one thing” that makes December 25 so special.  The question this week for all of us is…. What about Jesus?

Make it Personal:  Take a moment to think about your family traditions at Christmas. Are you making ways for the story of Jesus and the reason for the season to be talked about and celebrated?  How about the decor around your home.  If strangers come to visit will they know why and who you are celebrating by looking around your home?  These are things for us to think about as we celebrate Christmas this week.  Jesus is the reason for the season!

Have a blessed Christmas, Glen Rhodes