“And while they were there, the time came for her (Mary) to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”

Luke 2:6-7 (ESV)

This is the climax of the New Testament. This is the reason we are able to worship God. This is the reason why we are able to pray to God. This is the reason why we have salvation. The God of the universe, the great and mighty One, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End became a baby, was wrapped in swaddling cloths and lied in a manger. In the humblest of beginnings, the Christ child was born in a barn and slept in a feeding trough. This is the reason we celebrate this Christmas. It is easy amongst the hustle and bustle of the season. Decorating, buying gifts, getting ready for relatives to arrive, etc. can distract us from what Christ did for us. He stepped away from His throne in heaven, amongst the worship from the heavenly beings, and humbled Himself by taking on the form of a human. Paul tells us in Philippians 2:8 that Christ “being found in human form, he humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

This season, don’t forget what Christ has done for us. Don’t let the commercial world distract you from what is most important. Christ died for you. Christ shed his blood for you. Christ went through the most excruciating death, so that you could have eternal life. Christ was treated as though He was a sinner so that you could be treated as though you were perfect. He lived the perfect life we should have lived and died the death we deserved, all so that we could have a relationship with Him.

This week, as we get closer to Christmas day, prepare yourself to celebrate the birth of Christ. Focus on what He has done for you and give him praise. Share the true meaning of Christmas with those around you and help them to know the grace and mercy that God has shown you.