Why is Christmas so Important?

This year has been a bit harder than usual for me to get into the "Christmas spirit." I know it's not about a feeling or anything like that. But it's seemed like I was just doing all the things I usually do at Christmas and they were just things to check off my list - just going through the motions. Almost like I was just tired of doing the same thing every year.

Something was missing. And even my niece's excitement, or her rearranging my nativity set so that everyone is worshiping baby Jesus, "because that's what Christmas is about, auntie," wasn't helping me. To be honest I was tired of it all, and in the midst of my tiredness, I was missing why we were doing this thing.

Then I went to church on Dec 23 - not a Christmas Eve service yet, our regular weekend services. Except it wasn't - at least not for me. Something clicked as we sang the familiar songs, as I listened to the message, as we took communion together. The rest of the story doesn't happen without Christmas.

Sure, God could have found a different way to start His rescue story. But, He didn't. He chose to send His Son to earth to live and die for us. So, the cross and the resurrection started here. The story begins at Christmas with a baby in a manger.

At our Christmas Eve service, I was struck by the words of these familiar songs. We sing them every year, and I know I often have without realizing how they point to the mission of rescue Jesus was on for His life on earth. They speak of the freedom He was coming to bring. Of the healing He is bringing. They speak of the hope that was held in the birth of this child.

And so I'm reminded again of the importance of what we celebrate today. Christmas was the start of God's rescue plan for His creation. We often and easily see the cross and the resurrection as God's rescue plan, but Christmas was where the plan was launched. The birth of the Savior as a baby.

Finding Freedom

When I cried out

You heard my cry

And You rescued me

You freed me from my chains

You pulled me to my feet

You taught me to walk again

You steadied my unsure legs

As I began to move again

Now I am free to run

To dance and sing and celebrate

Nothing holding me back

Nothing to hold me down

One Night that Changed the World

A couple years ago, I wrote a post about Christmas that struck me again when I was re-reading it earlier. The same things I wondered and reflected on then, are still the same things I'm thinking about today. I thought it would be appropriate to share it again.

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As I have been reflecting on the Christmas story this year, I've been struck by how life changing the birth of this one baby was for all people - the night it happened and for all eternity.

One baby changed the world forever. 

Nothing has been the same since that night.

We often talk about how a baby changes everything for the family that baby is born into.

 None brought so much change as Jesus when He was born.

God come to earth.

Immanuel.

God with us.

The One whose life, death, and resurrection would make a way for mankind to once again have direct access to God.

The ultimate expression of sacrificial love. Of humble service.

I wonder if Mary and Joseph, if the shepherds, if the Magi, really understood the significance of that night. They knew what the angels had told them about this baby, but did they really get it? 

A couple thousand years later, do we really get it? Will we ever really get it?

The birth of a baby, named Jesus. 

A baby Who would change everything through His life and death.

The promised Messiah. The One prophesied about.

The One missed by so many when He came because of the way He came.

The One missed by so many while He walked on earth because He came to serve, not to exert His power.

The One missed by so many because He dies a criminal's death to become the greatest sacrifice and defeat sin and death for good.

The One still missed by many today.

But for those who stop to notice . . .

for those who are searching for something more . . .

for those who are willing to be humble and serve . . .

the chance to meat the One Who changes everything.

The One Who offers hope.

The One Who offers forgiveness and a second chance.

The One Who offers unconditional love.

The One Who never fails.

It was one night . . . 

in a stable . . .

in a small town . . .

with two poor parents . . .

surrounded by animals . . .

where the world changed forever.

God put His plan in motion to redeem a fallen world,

to restore a broken relationship with His people.

A plan still in motion today.

A plan that still offers hope today.

A birth.

A baby.

A life lived.

A death.

And the greatest of all - a victory over death, a resurrection.

All because of God's vast, unmeasurable, unchanging, unfailing love for each of us.

That makes it something worth celebrating!

Chosen by God

           "But you, Israel, My servant,
                    Jacob, whom I have chosen,
                    you descendants of Abraham My friend,
          I took you from the ends of the earth,
                    from its farthest corners I called you.
          I said, 'You are My servant',
                    I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
          So do not fear, for I am with you;
                    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
          I will strengthen you and help you;
                    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
                                                     Isaiah 41:8-10

These words were first written by the prophet Isaiah to Israel when they had wandered from God. God was reminding Israel, through the prophet Isaiah, of how much He loved them and how He had chosen them.

Israel was Chosen by God

Over and over in these verses, God reminds Israel that He has chosen them. Chosen them instead of any other group of people on earth. Israel was chosen as God's people. They were God's servants - chosen to do His will.

And because they were chosen by God, they had no reason to fear anything that would come their way. God would be with them. God would help them. God would uphold them.

This isn't the only place in Isaiah that has these words to say. It's a theme that is repeated over and over.

          "But now, this is what the Lord says -
                    He who created you, Jacob,
                    He who formed you, Israel:
          Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
                   I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
          When you pass through the waters,
                   I will be with you;
          and when you pass through the rivers,
                    they will not sweep over you.
          When you walk through the fire,
                   you will not be burned;
                   the flames will not set you ablaze.
          For I am the Lord your God,
                   the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
          I give Egypt for your ransom,
                    Cush and Seba in your stead.
          Since you are precious and honoured in My sight,
                    and because I love you,
          I will give people in exchange for you,
                    nations in exchange for your life.
                                                   Isaiah 43:1-4

God is the One Who created every person in Israel - His chosen people. He called each of them by name. They would have no reason to fear what came their way because God was with them. He loved them to the point that He would give up other nations to redeem them.

We Are Chosen by God

These words to Israel through the prophet Isaiah can be spoken to us as well.

God has also chosen us. He has not rejected us.

He leaves us with no reason to fear.

God will strengthen us for what comes our way.

God will help us if we are willing to let Him.

God will uphold us in the midst of anything.

God will walk with us through every challenge or hard time that comes our way.

God Delivers

Previous posts in this series can be found here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5.


The righteous person may have many troubles,
     but the LORD delivers him from them all;
He protects all his bones,
     not one of them will be condemned.

Evil will slay the wicked;
     the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
The LORD will rescue His servants;
     no one who takes refuge in Him will be condemned.
                                                           Psalm 34:19-22


No matter what challenge comes our way, God promises that He will deliver us from them. We will not be destroyed by whatever it is.

But the way God delivers us from those challenges may not look like we expect. God delivering David didn't mean that God took Saul out of the picture. David was still on the run from Saul. It took time for David to become king of Israel. But, even during this time, David was sure that God would deliver him from his troubles.

We live with the same reality. God delivering us from all our troubles may not be immediate. It might take time. We might have to be patient while we walk through challenges. God doesn't promise that He will deliver us immediately. He promises that He will deliver us. We just may have to wait for God's timing because, even if it doesn't look ideal to us, it is best.