More Christ in Christmas

The push of Christmas shopping, baking, making and preparing for 'the big day' often overshadows the main reason for the season, Jesus. This year, I want more Christ in my Christmas and perhaps you want that also.

I was challenged by a college student who was home over the holiday break a couple years ago. He was working out in the high school weight room where I noticed what I thought was a tatoo on his shoulder. A closer look revealed a welt in the shape an outline of a fish. I asked him to tell me about it and his reply inspired me.

"I grew up going to church and being good for my family. In college, I could be whoever I wanted to be and do whatever I wanted to do. Finally, I told my roommates that either I was going to stop going to stop pretending to be a Christian and go all in or I was going to quit believing in Jesus altogether. all in our out."
The clank of weights seemed to fade as he continued talking.
"My other roommates felt the same way. That day, we committed ourselves to going all out for Jesus. As a way of sealing our promise we had a contest of making the best fish shape out of a wire coat hanger. The winning entry was heated over the flame of our stove until it was red hot and we branded each others arm."

When I think of more Christ in Christmas, I think of the welt branded in the shape of a fish on a young man's shoulder. I am provoked to love deeper, live stronger and be filled with more of Christ in my life.

Perhaps, this is what the apostle Paul is writing about in Ephesians 3:14-19
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

How intentional is your commitment to having more Christ in Christmas?