Jesus is the Reason for the Season - How to Focus More on Jesus This Christmas

spiritual growth Dec 03, 2020

It’s finally Christmas! Our favorite time of the year.

It's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, without remembering that Jesus is the reason for the season.

Shopping for gifts, making Christmas cookies, hosting festive dinner parties - these are not bad activities whatsoever, but when you’re spending all your time doing these activities instead of spending it with Jesus for Christmas, then it’s time to shift your priorities.

In this blog post, we will talk about why Jesus is the reason for the season, and 7 ways to make him the focus this Christmas as you enjoy all the other holiday traditions.

And if you need a reminder to make Jesus the focus this season, we'll share the best Jesus is the reason for the season sign to make your decorations stand out.

Note: This post includes affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means I may earn a commission from a purchase which helps fund my blog at no extra cost to you.

Why is Jesus the Reason for the Season?

Before we talk about how to make Jesus the focus this Christmas, it's important to understand why Jesus is the reason for the season.

While some people have debated the history of Christmas, Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ every Christmas at December 25th.

And since Jesus sacrificed himself by dying on the cross for our sins, celebrating his life is a pretty big deal for Christians.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16 ESV

Here are a few Bible verses that talk about the birth of Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the Reason for the Season Bible Verses

If you need a reminder of where the Bible talks about the birth of Jesus, you can study the scriptures below.

Isaiah 9:6

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." - Isaiah 9:6 ESV

Luke 2:11

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." - Luke 2:11

Luke 1:35

"And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God." - Luke 1:35 ESV

7 Ways to Make Jesus the Reason for the Season This Christmas

As you prepare for Christmas this year, here are 7 ways to help you focus more on Christ this Christmas and how to make Jesus the reason for the season.

1) Celebrate Jesus’ Birthday Every Single Day

A lot of us treat our own birthday celebration like a season, with multiple celebrations.

So with Jesus’ birthday, why should we treat it any differently?

We don't have to limit the celebration to December 25th, we get to celebrate Jesus all month long!

But how can we truly celebrate Jesus' birthday with all the holiday festivities going on around us?

Pray and ask God how you can celebrate Jesus by celebrating what matters to him.

If you’ve studied the five love languages, ask yourself, what is Jesus’ love language and how can you celebrate Jesus’ love language this Christmas?

I don’t know what Jesus brings to your mind but right away I know that Jesus loves quality time.

He delights when I spend time with him and he wants my heart. My undivided attention with him.

My quality time with Jesus every day consists of alone time with just me and him. Time we get to spend together reading the Bible, worshipping, and in prayer. Journaling and reflecting on God’s goodness.

Some mornings I get distracted by my holiday to do list but I remind myself that staying committed to my daily time with God is more important than ever this month as I celebrate Jesus.

If you want to make your daily time with God more of a priority, check out my blog post, How to Make God Your #1 Priority, for tips and strategies on how to make more time for God.

Since the greatest commandment is to love God and to love others, it seems like acts of service is also Jesus’ love language. We can show love for God by loving others.

"Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God...God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers." - 1 John 4:7-21

And sometimes the best way to love others is by putting our faith and love in action.

How can you love others this holiday season?

Donating food or toys to those in need. Serving at a homeless shelter or food bank. Offering to go grocery shopping for your elderly neighbor. Volunteering at your church for any special Christmas events or outreach programs.

One of the best birthday presents we can give Jesus is showing love for him by loving others.

2) Get Festive with Your Time with God

If you are used to spending daily time with God, get festive with your quality time as you make Jesus the reason for the season this Christmas.

What should you read or study in the Bible this Christmas?

I love reading through the gospels every Christmas. The gospels are the books Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in the Bible that tell the events of Jesus’ life and ministry.

You can study the birth of Jesus in the gospels as well as his ministry and the miracles that he performed.

The word of God is alive and living and God has a way of speaking to us by revealing new revelations even if we’ve already read a certain passage in the Bible.

Even though I’ve read through the gospels and birth of Jesus before, God always has a way of bringing new things to light as I appreciate how Jesus came into this world and how he loved others during his time on Earth.

You can also read other Christmas devotionals or Bible studies this season. I love these Christmas devotionals to get in the holiday spirit and focus on Jesus.

Bring on the Merry by Candace Cameron Bure

Jesus Calling for Christmas by Sarah Young

You can also download free Bible reading plans if you want a guide to reading the Bible for specific stories or books in the Bible.

Or check out my top books that every Christian woman should read.

Did you know that fiction books can also bring you closer to Jesus this holiday season?

Instead of reading romance novels this season, read the story of Mary in Francine River’s, A Lineage of Grace.

Mary's story in this book is my favorite book to read every Christmas!

While it’s written as Christian fiction, Francine takes the facts from the Bible related to the birth and life of Jesus and adds more context to depict how Mary must have felt during this time.

The story includes the birth and death of Jesus and you’ll be living the gospel in such a new light with all the details and emotions of the story.

What music or movies can you enjoy that focus on Christ?

During your worship time, sing Christmas worship songs this season. There are so many beautiful Christmas carols that praise God for our savior, Jesus Christ. Sing along during your own worship time with God or sing along with the family.

You can also be more intentional about watching Christmas movies that focus on Jesus. My new favorite Christmas movie is The Star, an animated movie that tells the birth of Jesus. It’s a movie all ages of the family will love as you imagine what Jesus’ birth was like.

As you are decorating this year, set up a nativity scene and share the story of Jesus’ birth with your loved ones around you, especially the kids around you.

Every child I’ve met around Christmas time gets so excited to learn about the animals that were a part of Jesus’ birth.

The donkey that Mary rode on. The sheep that were in the manger where Jesus was born. The camels that the three wise men rode on.

There are lots of ways to make Jesus the reason for the season this Christmas.

3) Send Christmas Blessings in Your Christmas Card

Instead of sending out the standard Christmas card, use your Christmas cards this year to send blessings to others and to focus on the reason for the season.

A lot of Christmas cards consist of a family photo or a photo of a couple, with ‘Merry Christmas’ printed on the back along with their names.

While sending these Christmas cards are a great way to let someone know that you are thinking of them, sometimes it feels like a holiday card is another way people showcase how awesome their life is.

While I love celebrating all that God has done for my loved ones, Christmas isn’t about how awesome our lives are. It’s about celebrating the birth of Christ and how we can love and serve him and others this Christmas.

This year, make Jesus the reason for the season and the person receiving your card the focus. Include a personal prayer, blessing or bible verse for the person.

As you mail your card, pray for God’s presence and love to shine upon them this holiday season.

4) Embrace the Season of Giving

Christmas is the season of giving - you know the saying, it’s better to give than receive. But are you giving things that matter to those around you?

“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” – Acts 20:35 NIV

As you spend days running around town or browsing online to get the perfect holiday gifts for your loved ones, ask yourself, are you giving the right gift to this person?

While we often give our loved ones physical, tangible gifts, a lot of our loved ones are in desperate need of something much greater that cannot be bought.

They may need someone to talk to and listen to them. They may need advice or wisdom for a difficult situation they are going through. They may need you to pray with them.

Or they may really appreciate a home cooked meal or need help fixing something in their home. They may need someone to watch their kids for a few hours so they can have some alone time.

And they may desperately need the love of Jesus Christ that they’ve never experienced before.

So instead of just automatically swiping your credit card to purchase a gift for someone, ask God to highlight what they really need.

Ask God to highlight how you can give the love of Jesus Christ to this person this Christmas.

5) Talk About Why Jesus is the Reason for the Season

As a Christian, you have a responsibility to fulfill the Great Commission, to go out and make disciples of all nations.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” – Matthew 28:19-20 NIV

During the holidays, it’s easy to get distracted by all the shopping, Christmas light displays and Christmas cookies without remembering that you have a responsibility to share the love and truth of Jesus to others this season.

With everything that has happened the past few years, there are so many lost and broken people in this world that don’t know Jesus yet.

Pray and ask God to highlight people that don’t know him yet and to bring you opportunities to talk about why Jesus is the reason for the season.

People are actually more likely to go to church this time of year so be bold and invite the people that God highlights to church.

Ask others how you can pray for them this holiday season.

Ask people if they have a church to go to on Christmas or a church to watch online.

Let the Holy Spirit guide you to boldly share and invite others to receive the greatest gift of all, the gift of the gospel and salvation in Jesus Christ.

For more tips on how to share your faith with others this Christmas, check out my blog post How to Share Your Faith this Christmas.

6) Thank God for What You Have This Season

While the holidays are a wonderful time of year, it can also remind people of what they don’t have.

Loss of a loved one. A boyfriend that you’ve been praying and hoping for all year. Not being able to gather with your family this year.

Instead of comparing your holiday season to others, praise and thank God for all that you do have. Thank him for all the blessings in your life and all that he has done for you.

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Keep a gratitude journal if you have to in this season as a daily reminder of all the blessings in your life.

God delights in our praise and he’s already given us the best gift of all, our salvation and freedom in Jesus Christ.

If you are single and want to have more joy being single this time of year, check out my blog post, How to Have Joy Being Single at the Holidays.

Need a new gratitude journal? Click on the images below to shop on Amazon or add it to your Christmas list.

7) Focus on Things From Above

While we get excited for Christmas every year, the holidays can also be stressful. Our to do lists quickly fill up with things we have to get done.

Buy the perfect present for everyone. Decorate the entire house. Make a gingerbread house with your niece and nephew.

Mail your Christmas cards on time. Go to the grocery store and bake all those adorable, festive cookies you saw on The Holiday Baking Championship. Work out every day so you don’t gain weight from all those cookies.

Before you spend this season rushing around trying to get everything done, ask yourself, what actually matters most to you and to Jesus in this season?

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” – Colossians 3:2

Are you prioritizing your time on things that matter to Jesus? Are you actually enjoying all the Christmas traditions and festivities that you’re spending your time on?

Take some time to slow down and focus on those things that God puts on your heart and that mean the most to you.

It’s okay to say no to things to focus on the things that really bring you joy this season and to focus on your priorities.

Maybe it’s spending more time to get coffee with a friend just to catch up. Maybe it means only baking one type of cookie this year so you have more time to actually enjoy the time with your niece and nephew outside while they build a snowman.

Maybe it’s making sure you have quality time with your parents over dinner or game night instead of rushing to the store every night, searching for the perfect gifts.

While there are so many things you can do to help make the holidays more festive, focus on making Jesus the reason for the season and spending time with your loved ones around you to experience the fullness of God’s joy this season.