In the busyness of the festivities, let us take time to enjoy the greatest gift of all, Christ the Lord, who came on our behalf so we could have peace with God — for all time.
The word “peace” has become ironic this time of year. Amidst trying to get all the gifts for our beloved family members, attending social gatherings held at friends’ houses, buying tickets for multiple concerts, and visiting light displays, the Christmas season has been characterized more by hustle and bustle than by a quiet time of reflection and peace in the midst of that chaos. Many of us have forgotten the true meaning of Christmas.
Philippians 2:6-8 reminds us of the true reason for the season. Here, the Apostle Paul encourages his readers to have the mind of Christ, “who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
God Himself, descended into time, pitched His tent, and lived among us in order to mend the separation between God and man created by man’s sin. As John 1:14 states, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Christ, fully divine and fully human, in the ultimate act of grace and humility, was born in the form of a meek and lowly baby to a poor Jewish family under Roman rule. He faced all the temptations, hardships, and suffering we do yet was without sin and gave His life as the atoning sacrifice for our sins so we could have peace with God.
Not only is the work of Christ sufficient for us to have peace with God, but also to have peace with one another. As Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:13-16:
“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.”
This passage paints a vivid picture of how Christians approach life theologically through two different spiritual dimensions: vertical and horizontal. First and foremost, we as the Church have peace with Christ and are called to love God by seeking Him and pursuing intimacy with Christ. This is done through the reading of His Word, intentional quiet time, and worship. Yet, at the same time, we are also called to apply the horizontal dimension, in which we edify the body of Christ through our relationships with others: exercising our spiritual gifts to benefit the body, engaging in service projects that benefit our local communities, and lifting one another through prayer, encouragement, and fellowship.
In this way, we live out the true meaning of Christmas by not only recognizing the deep and profound peace we now have with God but also by realizing that we are called to have that same peace with others, encouraging and serving one another as Christ did for us.
The less importance we attach to ourselves, the more significance we give to Him — and the more joy and fulfillment we have. By letting go of finite, earthly things we gain access to those things that Heaven has to offer.
The iconic line “Let every heart prepare Him room” in the timeless Christmas carol “Joy to the World” implies that God cannot dwell in our heart if we’ve filled it up with those things we think will give us meaning and significance. In reality, possessions and self-focused pursuit actually take away from the only proper purpose that He gives us.
As St. Augustine once wrote, “God is trying to give us something, but our hands are too full to receive them.”
So, as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ with our families, let us exercise our Christian liberties to enjoy all that this season has to offer. We should joyfully attend Christmas concerts and performances, worship and reflect at Christmas Eve candlelight church services, wrap presents we’ve gotten for each other, and participate in traditions such as preparing and enjoying meals with our family and friends.
But in the busyness of the season, we must not forget that all the joy, celebration, and fellowship we have with one another is a direct result of the greatest gift of all, Christ, who came on our behalf so we could have peace with God for all time.
This Christmas, let us take time to meditate on His love and His example and reflect it by having that same heavenly peace with one another.
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