Christmas brings many pleasures; from putting up the Christmas tree to sharing the day with family and friends, to special music, exchanging gifts and good food to name only a few. Is that what you are experiencing this season? For some of you, personal problems are keeping you from experiencing the joy of the season. For others, you feel like one crisis after another has run you over making it difficult to enjoy the merry in the holidays. Some of you are so busy and working so hard that there is no time for sitting around a fire roasting chestnuts. Or, maybe there is not anything really wrong, but for some reason you are just not enjoying Christmas. It is not providing the emotional lift that you expected. Could it be that you are seeking the wrong thing?

What is it that you want to get out of Christmas? What is it that would make your Christmas wonderful and satisfying? Is it getting the family together? Is it finding the right present to give? Is it getting the present you have been hoping for? The problem with all of that is there is the opportunity that you will be disappointed. The problem is not Christmas. It is in your expectations. You are looking for the wrong thing. What is the right thing you should be looking for? The Christmas story tells us that the wise men went to Jerusalem looking for the new born babe who was born King of the Jews. They were looking for Jesus. Christmas for them was an opportunity to worship Jesus. That is what we need to be looking for and expecting this Christmas – an opportunity to worship our Lord and Savior. If our goal this Christmas is to worship Jesus, then I doubt very seriously if we will be dissatisfied with our experience. You may not be able to afford the right gift for a loved one or family members may be missing from your Christmas dinner table but Christmas is a time to remember the real reason for the season – the birth of Jesus Christ.

This season, keep your eyes and heart open for unexpected ways that God will reveal to you the hope of Christmas. Christmas can’t be bought from a store. Christmas is a time to remember the greatest gift God has ever given to man. The gift of Jesus satisfies every need that you will ever have. The gift of Jesus is not limited to just one day nor is it given to just one person. The gift of Jesus can be celebrated every day of the year by every person on this earth. Don’t be tempted to look for Christmas joy in a person, place or thing. Seek the only good and perfect gift that came from above – the gift of Jesus Christ. I promise you, if you do, you will have joy this Christmas.