Is there any such thing as ‘too much of a good thing?’ when it comes to Christmas? There may be.
The heart of the matter of Christmas is love (see: What Is Christmas), and I’ll never think there is an excess of love in the world. But apart from the obvious ‘too much’ of food, drink or commercialism, I believe there is a potential threat to our spirituality at Christmas.
“As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” said Joshua (Joshua 24:15).
It is important, I think, to ‘split a hair’ with regard to the celebration of Christmas.
Christmas is about love. Jesus was born and we celebrate his birth on 25th December. We thank him that he relinquished his place in heaven, in order to come to earth to sacrifice himself for us. And so we celebrate his birth at Christmas.
But there may be something more we celebrate that isn’t really of God.
We may celebrate – that is worship – Christmas.
Worship is devoting one’s attention. When we focus on Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we worship and celebrate God. When we sing Christmas Carols – which, by the way, I love! – we are celebrating God and the gift of Jesus to the world.
Or are we?
Just as we enjoy creation, we who are Believers in God are mindful of the Creator and we revere Him, not his creation.
So too, as we celebrate Christmas, let us all be mindful of Jesus, and to worship him, and not the day we’ve designated as his birthday.
Ready: As we search our hearts, let’s consider that we are worshiping the Saviour of the World.
Set: Confess if there has been any unwitting Christmas worship in our hearts.
Go: Enjoy the festive season, loving Jesus and all whom we meet. ‘Worship the LORD in the Spirit of Holiness’, aware of the potential ungodly ‘pull’ of Christmas on our spirit.