“When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, ‘Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.’ So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.”  —Luke 2:15-16

When the three wise men followed the star in the night sky, they knew they were about to witness something beyond their wildest dreams. They knew they were about to witness the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords in a tiny little manger. When they saw the star, they fell before Him and worshipped the wee one. They brought with them three gifts; gold as a symbol of kingship on earth, frankincense as a symbol of divinity, and myrrh, an embalming oil and a symbol of the sacrifice he would make for mankind.

Sometimes, the true meaning of Christmas can get lost among the hustle and bustle of the holidays. So, what does God, our Holy Father, want us all to focus on during this special time of year? As you might suspect, all those presents under the tree don’t represent the true meaning of Christmas.

The Best Gift Of All

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  —Romans 6:23 

Of course, gifts can certainly be meaningful, but we all know they’re temporary when compared to the holy gift from our Father, the Christ that came to set us free. And we are so very free, beloved. So free, in fact, that He tells us that we can soar on the wings of eagles, that we’ll be able to run and not grow faint.

This freedom was entirely wrapped in baby Jesus even before He grew into an adult; it was already beating in His little heart. He knew His purpose. As He grew, He knew while He carved wood that He’d soon be carving out the wickedness from our hearts with His crucifixion upon a cross. He knew when He whispered to the wild waves to be still that He would be silencing the doubts, worries and anxieties from our minds.

Jesus knew without a shadow of a doubt His purpose and His eternal reward. This is what God desires that we focus on this year.

Sharing Our Blessings

God desires that we not only focus on the gift of salvation, but that we also share it with others. Whether it looks like attending a poetry reading, handing our blankets to those less fortunate, or simply praying for a stranger, God desires that we show love to the fullest.

Let’s mend bonds and tear away pride. Let’s hold hands and drown our fears together. Let’s raise our glasses with family and friends, and rejoice in the truth that we are simply His. By showing love, we’re defeating the plans of the enemy for strife.

Worship And Praise

Our God desires that we make this year exceptional in celebrating the coming, going,and returning of our Christ. Our God desires that we worship in humble thanksgiving, honor Him with our hearts and how we show love, and come to a place of pure adoration for our King. The birth of Christ is the greatest, most historic birth of all; let’s celebrate His birth with rejoicing like the wise men did before Him.

“You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.”  —Luke 1:14

How will you make sure your focus stays on the birth of Christ this holiday season? Share your ideas in the comments below.

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