“Deck the Halls

  with boughs of holly.”

Many of us will deck the halls, trim the tree, and hang the stockings with care.  Most of us rarely think about the customs behind the various Christmas decorations.  We just feel more festive with lights, bells, candles, and evergreens.  There is something about decking the halls that draws us into the holiday.

I can’t help but think about our own lives as Christians.  When people look at us, do they see the light of Jesus?  Do our lives pull them in, giving them a sense of anticipation and hope … wanting to also experience the joy of the Lord? 

Titus 2:9-10, speaking to slaves of that day, says:

Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.  —- Or, as the King James Version says, “that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.”

You might not be a slave, but many of you have jobs.  Do you highlight or underscore the doctrine of God by the way you act and react in the workplace?  Does being a Christian look honorable on you?  Does your life pull people in to the Gospel or repel them?

Let’s remember what most needs to be adorned this Christmas.  Let’s “make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.”  That Savior came to earth 2000 years ago.  Is it obvious by the way you celebrate Christmas?  Is it obvious by the way you live the rest of the year?

Highlighting, underlining, to-do and to-buy lists, calendars, notes, catch phrases, and so much more.  We use many tools to help us remember what is important, to not forget to do what we must do or should know.  We can be forgetful.

The same is true spiritually.  God has taught us wonderful truths.  We know He is the answer.  We know our help and hope are found in Him.  Yet, without constant reminders, we can forget. This can be especially so during busy seasons of life, like the holidays.  We can get so caught up in what “we” must do during this time that we skip spending time alone with Him until we get through the busy patch. 

Our focus can be so scattered that we fail to turn to Him for direction and strength. But, we do need Jesus’ help at Christmas.  Holidays can affect our personal lives and they can also affect church life.

Maybe we should apply a similar approach of reminding ourselves as we do in other areas of life.

What are ways you can highlight or underscore the truths you need to remember during the busyness of the season?

Here are some ideas:  computer desktop backgrounds, pop up reminders on your computer, 3 by 5 cards strategically located, send yourself a phone message, etc.

Vary your approach as it is easy to soon not see what is constantly before us.  Highlight the truths most relevant for you.

What are some catch phrases you can use as reminders?

Keep in mind, however, that after some time, we can become immune to the significance of phrases we’ve heard repeatedly.  You’re undoubtedly familiar with catchy phrases like “Jesus is the Reason for the Season”  Let’s come up with something new each year.

What about using a to-do list or calendar?

If you are finding it hard to get into the Word or pray during the busy season, why not schedule it or put it on a list?  If those tools are used to remember to do what is important, then plan what truly is important!

Think reminders like this are too mundane for your spiritual life?  Check out the ways God encouraged the Israelites to use as reminders in Deuteronomy 6:4-9.

What have you done, or what will you do, to remind yourself to keep focused on the Lord during the holidays, to turn to Him as the source of help and hope, to remain steadfast in your walk with Him?