This is how you get Christ back in Christmas

What is your favorite Christmas album? Mine is “Christmas Carols” by Frank Sinatra. Listening to carols gives me a sense of childlike wonder and excitement. But if you’re like me, the wonder and excitement of celebrating the Savior’s birth all too often becomes a blur of busyness, a frantic dash to survive the calendar than an opportunity to slow down and rejoice in King Jesus. So how can we slow down, take a breath, and truly appreciate Christ this Christmas?

The answer begins with our hearts.

First, remember why Jesus came. Christmas is more than celebrating a baby in a manger – it’s about celebrating why that baby came. Jesus wasn’t born just to start a holiday tradition. He was born to carry out God’s rescue mission. As Luke 19:10 says, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Jesus came to give the ultimate gift: “How much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:17).

We appreciate Christ when we remember that He left the glories of heaven to enter into the mess of our world—our sin, our brokenness, our pain. He became one of us to free us from sin and death. As you sit by the fire or gaze at the nativity scene, pause and reflect: the King of kings humbled himself to heal your soul. It is a treasure worth pondering over and over again.

Second, rearrange your priorities.

The holidays have a way of showing us what we really value. If we are not careful, God’s good gifts—family, food, gifts, and fun—can usurp the throne that belongs to Christ alone.

Jesus reminds us: “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). The question is not whether we celebrate Christmas, but how we celebrate it. Are we consumed by what we can get, or are we captivated by what we have already received in Jesus? This Christmas, rearrange your schedule and priorities to make room for what matters most: time with Jesus.

Start your day with scripture. Read the Gospel accounts of his birth in Matthew or Luke. Pray together as a family. Tell your children and grandchildren not only about Santa Claus, but about the savior who satisfies. Make room for Christ.

Third, rest in the good news.

One of the best ways to appreciate Christ is to rest in Him. We live in a culture that depends on performance and perfection – even at Christmas time. We want the perfect tree, the perfect meal, the perfect family photo. But when we make Christmas about us, we miss the heart of the season. The Gospel says: “Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). Jesus came to save you from the weight of your striving. He came so you could rest—not just from your busyness, but from your soul’s restless search for meaning. This Christmas, receive that rest. Lay your burdens at his feet. Sit in silence. Worship him. Treasure him.

Fourth, reflects his love for others.

When we cherish Christ, His love overflows to those around us. Don’t let Christmas be all about receiving – make it about giving. Share your time, resources and heart with someone who feels overlooked this season. Invite a neighbor over for dinner. Call a friend who is grieving. Remember the lonely, the wounded and the poor. You reflect Jesus when you love others as he has loved you.

In a world full of distractions, Jesus is still the greatest treasure. Don’t miss him this Christmas. Fix your eyes on the giver of grace. Let the wonder of His love sink deep into your soul. And as you do, may you discover what the angels long ago proclaimed: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those in whom he is pleased!”

Jesus is the gift we all need. He is the treasure worth everything. Let’s slow down this season and really worship Him.

Rev. Derwin L. Gray, who played football for BYU from 1989-1992, is the co-founder and lead pastor of Transformation Church in South Carolina and the author of “Enlightened with Love: Becoming Good News to a Gospel-Starved World.”