4 Gifts to Put CHRIST Back in Christmas

Mariah Carey is defrosted. The mall is blasting Christmas tunes. And you've got a wish list a mile long.

The Christmas season is here—and it's loud, glittery, and impossible to ignore.

Let's be real. Christmas can feel like a full-on spending marathon. The pressure to find the perfect gift (on a budget), the sales, the wish lists, the endless scrolling—it's a lot. According to the National Retail Federation, the average American will spend nearly $900 this holiday season on gifts, travel, decorations, and food. That's over $1 trillion nationwide!

But if Christmas is really about celebrating Jesus' birth, shouldn't it look different for His followers? We put up nativity sets, sing Christmas carols, and attend candlelight Christmas programs. But like Forrest Frank says, is it possible that we've gotten a little carried away? [1]

“We lost the meaning of our special day
Somewhere between the pretty presents and lights
We took the holy out of holy night”

Shouldn't Christmas look radically different for Christians than it does for the world? Yes! It is time to “put Christ back in Christmas” and “the King of the world in His rightful place.”

Four Gifts to Put Christ Back in Christmas

So how should you celebrate Christmas? Let's go back to the first Christmas and see how Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, the wise men, and even baby Jesus celebrated. Their examples show us four gifts that will put Christ back in Christmas.

1. The Gift of Obedience: Have you ever considered what Mary and Joseph had to give up to become the parents of the Messiah? They gave up their reputations (hello, pregnant before marriage!) and their right to be understood by others. Their story made zero sense. Angel visits? Pregnant by the Holy Spirit? Yeah, right! People must have rolled their eyes and whispered whenever they came near. But Mary and Joseph both chose to give God the gift of obedience. They accepted a calling they did not fully understand and chose to walk in obedience to the angels' words. Joseph “did as the angel of the Lord commanded him” (Matthew 1:24).

Give the gift of obedience:

Mary's response is worth copying: “Let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). This Christmas, give God the gift of obedience, even though His plan may not always make sense to us. If you do, you will find that what the angel told Mary is also true for you: “For with God nothing will be impossible” (Luke 1:37).

2. The Gift of Following: Far to the east of Judah, an unusual star lit up the night sky. The wise men didn't ignore it (like I probably would have done). Instead, they remembered Balaam's prophecy that “a Star shall come out of Jacob, a Scepter shall rise out of Israel” (Numbers 24:17). Then they did something radical: They left their homes and set out to find the newborn king (camel life, anyone?). They didn't have all the answers, but they followed all the truth they had. The result? They felt “exceedingly great joy” (Matthew 2:10) as they saw God's leading. When they found baby Jesus, they worshiped Him and gave Him their best gifts.

Give the gift of following:

Would you like to experience the wonder and joy of Christmas again? Then do what the wise men did and let the truths of Scripture shape your life. Give God the gift of following Him with all you have. Go all in. Make Jesus your first priority this Christmas. If you do, you can also experience “exceedingly great joy.”

3. The Gift of Blessing Others: Ever thought about Christmas from baby Jesus' perspective? Imagine what it must have been like for Him to leave the glories of heaven to come to our earth as a helpless baby. He went from being the King of heaven to a diapered baby sleeping in a cattle trough. Incredible!

So why did He do it? Because He loves you and me (and every other one of the billions of people who have ever lived on this earth). He wanted to be WITH us. That's why one of His names (Immanuel) means “God with us.” He came to bless us.

Give the gift of blessing others:

Look for someone who is less fortunate than you and find ways to bless them this Christmas. Rake leaves for an elderly person. Take food to the homeless. Get presents for a refugee child. Christmas is the perfect time to bless others just like Jesus has blessed us.

4. The Gift of Telling Everyone: Do you know what the shepherds did after they found baby Jesus in the stable? They “made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child” (Luke 2:17). You couldn't shut them up! They had just seen the most mind-blowing thing—angels lighting up the sky and God in a feeding trough! How could they not tell everyone?

Give the gift of telling everyone:

Have you been telling everyone you see about Jesus this Christmas? If not, then it's time to follow the shepherds' example and start broadcasting the amazing news that Jesus came to this earth to save you and me. There is no better news than that!

Let's Put Christ Back in Christmas

The first Christmas didn't come with a shopping spree or a perfect aesthetic. It was humble. Unexpected. And yet, heaven showed up in the middle of it.

Maybe it's time our Christmas looked the same.

Let's stop letting culture define what Christmas should be. Instead of more stuff, let's choose obedience, worship, compassion, and truth. Let's put the King of the world in His rightful place—on the throne of our hearts.

When we do, the gifts we give won't just fill stockings—they'll reflect the heart of Jesus. Like Forrest Frank says, they'll “be reminders of what He gave,” and every light we see will remind us of “the light of the world we hung on a tree.” [1]

What would it look like for you to celebrate Christmas like that?

Should a Christian celebrate Christmas? Listen to this biblical take on how Christians should celebrate the holidays. [2]

[2] https://www.amazingfacts.org/watch/special-projects/biblical-answers-to-relevant-questions/should-a-christian-celebrate-christmas/