Getting into the Christmas Spirit is different for many people. For some it is when there is snow on the ground and trees, a warms fireplace glowing and a hot cup of chocolate. For others, it is something that happens when certain songs are played and reminiscing about winters past as a child. Other find the Christmas Spirit when they have finished decorating their house with a tree and lights. For others it is a break for school and yet others the Christmas Spirit is found in the bottom of a bottle.
For whatever reason, it seems like the Christmas Spirit has become secularized. Marketing campaigns are designed to compete for your dollars, the Christmas Spirit is a feeling you get when you receive what you want, correct? It has come to the point that you can get into the Christmas Spirit without even a mention of Jesus.
So, is the Christmas Spirit having that feeling of contentment? Is it that “warm and fuzzy” feeling when you are able to just relax with nothing pressing that has to be done? Having the Christmas Spirit is when you greet people with “Seasonal greetings” or “Happy holidays” as so you do not offend anyone. No one wants to be offensive this time of the year, right?
A way to describe the true Christmas Spirit is that it is something that is just inside of us. But what is that something we should be feeling inside of us? Most people will agree that the Christmas Spirit is a feeling, and this is true, but what is the true feeling for the Christmas Spirit? To find out what this feeling is we need to look at the Christmas story in the Bible.
The first people who were told of the birth of Jesus was shepherds and the story can be found in Luke 2:8 – 20. In verse 20 we find what their reaction to this birth was, they were glorifying and praising God. Now shepherds in those days were not gentle, soft-spoken persons were can see on greeting cards. They were more than likely the “rough and ready” kind of individual. When the Bible says that they were glorifying and praising that would-be kind of like when your team is in the playoffs and they win at the last second of the game, whooping and hollering at the top of your lungs, just cutting loose.
The birth of Jesus is something that is to be enthusiastically celebrated, just like those shepherds on the first Christmas! This baby is the living proof that God really did love the world so much “that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
But let’s get back to our question of “What is the Christmas Spirit”? The Shepherds are just one example, what are the other examples? Even before the birth of Jesus we can find more of this Christmas Spirit. In Luke 1, a pregnant Mary is visiting her sister, who was barren and old is also pregnant who is known in the Bible as John the Baptist. This story in in Luke 1:39 – 45. Verse 41 says “At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. And then in verse 44 Elizabeth says “When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy.”
As we go further in Luke 1 starting at verse 67, we find Elizabeth’s husband, Zacharias. He was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied saying “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and redeemed his people. He has sent us a mighty Savior from the royal line of his servant David.” Zacharias reaction tells us about his attitude.
After this we already spoke of the Shepherds in Luke 2, but moving past that to verse 25, Eight days after the birth of Jesus, we find another unique person, Simon. We find out that Simon was a righteous and devout man waiting for the Messiah to come. Mary and Joseph were bringing Jesus to dedicate Him to the Lord. When they were walking past Simon, he took the Baby in his arms, praised God, saying “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and He is the glory of your people Israel!”
Simon then goes on telling Mary in verse 34 that “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, but he will be a joy to many others. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him”. And in verse 36 we find another person Anna, who Jesus and she began giving thanks to God.
Just so that we do not leave anyone out, there is another set of important people who were looking for Jesus. Beginning in Matthew 2:2 we find the wise men, who came from the east. They saw his star and they came to worship him. When King Herod heard this he too wanted to find Jesus so as he said to worship him. Even though King Herod was telling a lie, he understood the appropriate attitude that was supposed to be had, worshiping Jesus!
What we find in these Biblical reading is that the Spirit of Christmas should be an attitude of worship, an attitude of thanksgiving of the Lord for Loving us so much that he sent his Son. An attitude of joy towards Jesus, a filling of the Holy Spirit with us! And this worship should not be some little silent thing done in private, but like the Shepherds, whooping and hollering, I mean glorifying and praising!
In order to do this, we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit within us. Yes, the true Christmas Spirit is that “something” inside of us and that something is the filling of the Holy Spirit. In fact, external shallow observance of the birth of Jesus is distasteful to God and most of what goes on today during the Christmas season breaks His heart.
Superficial worship does not find any acceptance with Him. For example, in Isaiah 29:13 it says “And so the Lord says, ‘These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote.’” A true worshipper is the one whose heart is devoted.
Another example of how God despises superficial worship is found in Malachi 1: in verse 6 – 8 it says:
The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says to the priests: “A son honors his father, and a servant respects his master. If I am your father and master, where are the honor and respect I deserve? You have shown contempt for my name! “But you ask, ‘How have we ever shown contempt for your name?’ “You have shown contempt by offering defiled sacrifices on my altar. “Then you ask, ‘How have we defiled the sacrifices?’ “You defile them by saying the altar of the Lord deserves no respect. When you give blind animals as sacrifices, isn’t that wrong? And isn’t it wrong to offer animals that are crippled and diseased? Try giving gifts like that to your governor, and see how pleased he is!” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
And again, in Amos 5:21 – 24 we find this statement:
“I hate all your show and pretense— the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies. I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings. I won’t even notice all your choice peace offerings. Away with your noisy hymns of praise! I will not listen to the music of your harps. Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living.
The true Christmas Spirit begins with our attitude. Our attitude towards of Lord and Savior Jesus. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit within us. The ability to have joy in our hearts towards God almighty, and being able to worship giving praise and glory to God. The true Christmas is a feeling inside, but not one that anything in this world can give us. It is something inside of us that is heaven sent!
If you feel that you have not received the Holy Spirit in your heart, let this be your prayer today:
My heavenly Father, I believe in my heart that Jesus was born of the virgin Mary for my sins and was raised from the dead, and I confess Him as my Lord.
Jesus said, “How much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.” I ask You now in the name of Jesus to fill me with the Holy Spirit. I step into the fullness and power that I desire in the name of Jesus. I confess that I am a Spirit-filled Christian. As I yield my vocal organs, I expect to worship, praise and glorify the birth of Jesus as my Savior! Praise the Lord! Amen.