Your Christmas Relationship Status

Not having a relationship during Christmas sucks.

That's right, plenty of people feel this way during the holidays. I've noticed that Christmas movies are all about love, relationships, and family. Christmas songs have become about "Santa Baby" and "All I Want for Christmas is You." Conversations about Christmas have turned into questions about what you are buying the loved ones in your life, or how you can fit everything into your schedule. In many ways Christmas has turned into as much of a "Single Awareness Day" as Valentine’s Day. Going to Christmas parties and feeling like "if only I had a date this year," or being with your family and feeling like the only person who doesn't have someone special to exchange a gift with...

The truth is, not having a relationship during Christmas does suck—if you do not have a relationship with the birthday boy we are celebrating. My heart is sad, and I think the Lord probably grieves during this time of year at how we have made Christmas about everything except for Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior...

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

– Philippians 2:6-11

You see, Christmas is about having a relationship:

A relationship with Jesus.

(John 6:35-40; John 10:9-11.)

Christmas is about love:

God is love.

(1 John 4:7-21; John 3:16.)

Christmas is about family:

Being adopted into God’s family.

(1 John 3:1; Matthew 12:48-50.)

Christmas is about a gift:

The gift of eternal life.

(Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9.)

I am as guilty as anyone of getting distracted by all the things the world tells me I need at this time of year, and all the reminders of things I don't have. My prayer is that we wouldn't get caught up in everything else and just “fit Jesus” into Christmas, but that we would celebrate Jesus' birthday! This holiday is about Jesus, not about us. I pray that we would be thankful for the greatest gift of all, and share the love, grace, peace, and joy that we have because of our Savior.

You see, you already have a relationship: a relationship with the greatest, most loving individual this world has ever seen. JESUS. You are not alone; you are never alone. God goes before you, is with you, and has an incredible plan for your life (Deuteronomy 31:8; Jeremiah 29:11).

How are you doing in your relationship with Jesus?

– Ally