During this Christmas season when we should all be celebrating the birth of our Savior—Jesus Christ, we’re seeing the world work in deliberate ways to take Christ out of Christ-mas.

Great effort is being put forth to make sure there is no room for Him publicly here in the United States—even during Christ mas—the holiday we’ve celebrated for so many years to honor his birthday!

So now, just as it was so many years ago when He came to this earth to be born as a baby, there is to be found, no room for Him in the hearts and lives of so many.

There is however, an outcry going on to fight against this injustice and the fight is far from over. But we wonder, isn’t there more that we should be fighting for than keeping Christ in Christmas? It seems that as long as Christ “behaves himself” and remains like a babe born in a manger, cute and innocent—not interfering in how we live out our lives beyond this season, celebrating Christmas seems like a nice tradition—one many will even fight to keep.

Not too many are threatened by an innocent baby. But will we put forth the same effort into putting Christ into His rightful place beyond Christmas?

Jesus—who is God, came to us in human form, born in a manger, “meek and mild” also grew up to become Savior and LORD of our lives. He wasn’t born to remain in the form of a baby. He eventually grew into a man in human form and died on a cross, bearing upon Himself all we have done which we shouldn’t, to save us from ourselves.

He then victoriously rose from the dead so that as we believe and accept Him as Savior and Lord, we also can have victory over sin and the death of eternal separation from God. But Jesus Christ is asking us to make Him not only Savior but also Lord of our lives.

The question is, “how about you? Are you experiencing all Christ has for you throughout the year—beyond Christmas?” As followers of Jesus Christ, we should celebrate Christ coming to this earth, not only at Christmas time, but throughout the year.

Our challenge to you—in the midst of all of your “busyness” and running throughout the rest of the Christmas season—is to remember the following three points (which we gleaned from some resources sent to us) and how they apply to your marriage:

•  BEWARE OF RUNNING FROM THE CHRIST OF CHRISTMAS as King Herod did.

He had the opportunity to worship the real “KING of KINGS.” But he was too caught up in wanting things his way. So he closed his eyes to the truth and denied and tried to destroy the Truth! But the Bible says there will come a day when “Every Knee with bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” We can only deny Christ his Lordship for so long!

 As you think about the Christ of Christmas and the New Year coming up before you, our prayer is that you will quit trying to make your life work just for you and instead ask God to show you how to make your life work so that He is truly Lord of your life and your marriage. Also:

•  BEWARE OF RUNNING THROUGH CHRISTMAS as the Innkeeper did.

He was so busy he made no room for the Christ of Christmas. That’s all too easy for any of us to do in the world of distractions we live in today.

Don’t let that which is least important crowd out that which should be most important. And finally,

•  BE WISE AND RUN TO THE CHRIST OF CHRISTMAS as the shepherds and wise men did!

Make the time to worship the Christ of Christmas now and throughout the year! He IS the reason for the season and our hope for now and forever.

Something we’ve seen hold true is, “if we strive to seek the Light of Christ—rather than strive so hard to be right (in our own eyes), we’ll eventually find that a lot of our relational problems will resolve themselves.” It comes down to the fact that, WISE MEN STILL SEEK HIM TODAY.

Christ may not get the attention He deserves this side of heaven. And sadly, we may not make Him the priority He should be in our lives even during this season, but with or without our participation, He WILL get the attention He deserves some day. Our prayer for you and for us is that we will honor Him rightly, “from this day forward.”

 A beautiful Christmas card we received reminds us that:

“Only a few heard the music when He arrived.

BUT THE CELEBRATION WILL BE DEAFENING WHEN HE RETURNS!”

We pray that you will:

CELEBRATE the CHRIST of Christmas now so you can truly celebrate later.

CELEBRATE CHRIST — Not just Christmas
—in your heart, in your home, and wherever you are!

Please know that our love and prayers are continually with you… May God richly bless you and your family —Have a blessed Christ-mas!

Steve and Cindy Wright