A while back as I was going to one of those wholesale stores to get some church supplies, I noticed all the Christmas decorations were up and ready for customers to buy.

Halloween had taken place a few days earlier and Christmas was already being pushed on the consumers. As I walked through the store the thought came to my mind: It won’t be long before we see Christmas being pushed during the Summer months and even earlier. I love the Christmas season with the best but the only reason stores are pushing Christmas earlier and earlier is because of sales.

I love Christmas decorations but all I saw that day being displayed for the shopper to buy were decorations of reindeer, snowmen, and everything else but the reason why we celebrate Christmas.

When I was growing up, I seem to remember more emphasis was placed on the birth of Jesus Christ during Christmas when it came to Christmas decorations. Back then, there were more manger decorations than snowmen, reindeer and everything else we see being pushed today during Christmas. How did we get to this place?

The last few years, I have sadly noticed less emphasis is placed on the reason for the season, the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and more on things that may be pretty and bright, but are not able to heal our souls.

Society today is looking more and more to take Jesus Christ out of Christmas and replace Him with everything else but the reason why we celebrate Christmas.  

Today Christmas has become all about Black Friday and Cyber Monday and all the great deals we can get. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good deal but when Christmas becomes more of that and less of Jesus Christ, we are treading on shaky ground. I must confess, the business of the Christmas season has the tendency to get my focus off why we celebrate Christmas.

As believers, we need to make sure, not only during Christmas but every day of our lives that our focus stays on what the angel Gabriel said to some unnamed shepherds, out in the field keeping watch over their sheep, who had become fearful at seeing the angel Gabriel.

Luke 2:10-11 “But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord!” (emphasis added) The reason for the season is the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Without that all we have is a man-made holiday.

Let me take the time wish everyone a Blessed Christmas or as they say in my home, Feliz Navidad! Let’s pray the world sees the church of Jesus Christ placing Him at the forefront of Christmas and every day of the year!!