Embracing the Year-Round Impact of Christmas: A Journey Beyond the Holidays

From Holiday Decor to Daily Devotion: How the Christmas Story Inspires Lasting Change and Renewed Faith in Our Everyday Lives

With the holidays officially behind us and schools starting back, we find ourselves returning to our normal routine. All the Christmas decorations are put away, and schedules are filling up with the busyness of work, sports, and life. Before long, the memory of Christmas will be in our distant past, only to be dusted off and celebrated again next year.

I wonder if this also happened to the Shepherds who traveled to see Jesus in the manger. Remember, they were just "common Joes" working the night shift.    After the wonder of seeing over 100,000 angels appear to them and traveling to see Jesus, did they go back to their routines? Did the memory of Christmas fade away and get put back in a box only to be remembered a year later?

When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child. Luke 2:17

Based on these scriptures from Luke, it appears that life did change for them. They did not just put what they saw and witnessed "away" for another year.    Their lives had been changed.  

The Shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. Luke 2:20

They were different. They had a renewed "energy" in being witnesses of our God and his Son, who came to earth to ultimately die for us so that we can have the promise of eternal life with HIM.

What about us? What about you? Did celebrating Christmas and revisiting the manger change us in any way?   Did the message of Christmas and what the Shepherds saw bring a renewed energy in us to take that next step to draw closer to HIM? To display God's love in our words and actions in our homes, work, and relationships?

But for me it is good to be near to God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works. Psalm 73:28

We are entering this new year, answering those questions with a resounding YES. How that looks for us may differ, but the key is that we each take the step!

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. James 4:8

We want to put these verses into ACTION! Take the next step to draw closer to God.   As we prepare to watch the Michigan/Washington Game tonight, we want, as Jim Harbaugh says, "to have enthusiasm unknown to mankind" in our daily walk with Jesus. To have others ask, what is different about those guys? 

We pray that as you enter 2024, you will not let the miracle of Christmas just get put back in the box. You will reflect and think about how to take one step closer to God this coming year. To be a stronger witness for HIM in your interactions with others and to allow HIM to work more actively in your life. Have "enthusiasm unknown to mankind" in your daily walk with God.

It's still not too late to join us for a bible devotion on "The Habit of Happiness" with a group of Seven24 guys. Get started here.