Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” – Matthew 2:1-2
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Jimmy is not the reason for the season. Jimmymas is not a thing. No one sings “joy to the world” upon my arrival, has a scene of my birth in their yard, or holds a candlelight service to celebrate who I am and what I mean to their life. This time of year is not about me. And it’s not about you. Yet, it’s easy to make it about us, isn’t it? We can get caught up in what we enjoy about, what we receive because of, and what we get to do during Christmastime and spend very little time getting caught up with Christ. It’s the most wonderful time of the year not because of the festive music, favorite movies, familiar decorations or family traditions that can rightly be a part of our holiday experience; it’s a time of celebration and jubilation and exaltation of Jesus. The days leading up to and climaxing on December 25th are a reminder that every day, every person, every experience, every place in time and space in the created universe shines a spotlight on Jesus at the center. No matter how good it is for us, it is not about us. It’s His story. It’s His glory. The sights and sounds and smells of the season are a bright light that beckons us to come worship Him. Our King was born. Our King reigns. Our King is coming again. Hallelujah! So, let us be glad for all of the special, social, sentimental and seasonal things that we look forward to and like about the holidays; but may that gladness for our personal favorites explode into real adoration of Jesus that centers Him in our hearts and our minds and our lives with such intensity that it kickstarts a daily pursuit of Him that lasts until this time next year when we get to do it all again.
