Celebrating Christmas, or any other holiday for that matter, is not the simple matter of keeping traditions. Israel tried this and this was God’s response:
Isaiah 1:14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.
It is so easy to just get caught up in the observation of a holiday without really participating in the purpose of the event. Israel’s holidays were for the purpose of reminding Israel of the faithfulness and provision of God. So if Christmas does not serve to remind us and cause us to glory in the grace and provision of God, we have just missed the mark. This celebrated and popular holiday cannot be properly observed if we are loaded with the hustle and bustle that normally attends it. There must be some quiet time (that is the purpose of a day’s vacation for the holiday) to reflect on what this historical event has purchased for us along with some meditation on the people and events, the costs they assumed and some heartfelt respect for how this all came about. It is meant to build a sense of gratitude in us and most certainly a sense of awe toward our God.
Let me set one simple thought upon you for your consideration as you reflect on the blessed event of this advent season:
Romans 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Now there is a satisfying and contentment building thought that ought to arise out of a proper celebration of Christmas.
