Make This a Winning Christmas Season

“While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’” Luke 2:6-11

Football season is winding down with the favorites winning their conference or league while other teams either surprised or disappointed their followers. The Baylor Bears surprised a lot of people and had the best season ever (10-1). They had a winning season. Several years ago an editorial in the Texas Baptist Standard suggested the way to have a winning Christmas season.

Keep Jesus First - There would be no Christmas season unless there was the Christ. The economy of our nation would suffer without the Christmas season. But the very soul of our nation will suffer without remembering the person of the occasion, Jesus Christ. We do not honor the birth of Jesus Christ by selfishness, drunkenness, indecency, and surrendering to sensuality. A winning Christmas season includes keeping Jesus first.

Thoughtful Worship - A winning Christmas season includes worship where we give ourselves to Christ and then give our gifts to Christ. Jesus is our King, Priest, and through His death, our Savior.

Gracious Receiver - Many lose in the Christmas season at the point of receiving. It is easier for some to give than receive. “I don’t care what I get for Christmas, just don’t give me anything that makes me blow my top,” wrote Hal Boyle. Gracious receiving leads to a winning Christmas season.

Rediscover Family - God sent His Son into a family and home. Christmas is a family time, and a winning Christmas season involves forgiving, ending estrangements, and repairing broken relationships. A winning Christmas season includes rediscovering the family.

Keep the Spirit - Sometimes we feel that Christmas is artificial. We take it all down and store it in a closet until the next year. The coming of Jesus was not intended to liven us up for a few days each year. He was not born to provide only temporary escape from the monotonous affairs of human life.

“It matters not whether you win or lose but how you play the game,” is the advice of a tired phrase. This is not true. It matters that we win in life, and it matters that we win in this Christmas season.