I’ll be honest with you, friend…
For a long time, Christmas raised more questions in my heart than answers. I loved the season, the worship, the wonder — but every year I would hear someone say, “Jesus wasn’t born on December 25,” or “Christmas is pagan,” or “The traditions aren’t biblical.”

And even though I didn’t want to feel confused, I did.
It bothered me more than I let people see.

So one December, I decided to stop brushing those questions aside and finally look deeper. I opened my Bible. I researched early Christian history. I studied what Scripture actually says — and what it doesn’t say.

And do you know what I found?
Clarity that brought my heart so much peace.

🌟 When Questions Try to Steal the Joy

What I discovered first was this: the Bible never tells us the exact date of Jesus’ birth — and that’s okay. The early church didn’t celebrate a date. They celebrated the miracle of God becoming flesh.

Much later, Christians chose December 25 as a way to publicly honor the moment when Light entered the darkness (John 1:5). It wasn’t about copying culture. It was about worship. It was about making space in the year to say:
“Christ has come. Hope has come. Salvation has come.”

🌟 When the Internet Creates Confusion

The next thing I tackled were the scary claims — the ones that make Christians nervous:
“Christmas came from Saturnalia.”
“December 25 is a pagan sun holiday.”
“The Christmas tree is an idol.”

I dug into these one by one, and here’s what I found:

Saturnalia
– Ended on December 23, not the 25th
– Looked nothing like Christian worship
– Early believers refused to participate

Sun worship
– Christian writings connected Jesus to December 25 before the sun-god festival grew popular
– Early Christians weren’t blending religions — they were claiming that Christ is the true Light of the world

Jeremiah 10
– Describes carved wooden idols, not Christmas trees
– The tree tradition began centuries later among believers who used the evergreen to symbolize eternal life

The deeper I looked, the more obvious it became:
These claims aren’t historically accurate — they’re just repeated often.
And when we replace rumor with truth, fear loses its power.

🌟 When Judgment Creeps In

I also wrestled with feeling judged — as if honoring Christmas somehow made me less spiritual. But then I read Paul’s words with fresh eyes:

“So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days…”
— Colossians 2:16 (NLT)

Friend, that settled my heart.
Paul reminds us that God looks at the heart, not the calendar.
If your celebration is rooted in Christ, then your celebration is worship.

🌟 What Christmas Really Means

After all that searching, the truth became beautifully simple:

Christmas is not about a date.
It’s about a Savior.

Jesus came because the world needed rescuing.
He came because light was needed in the darkness.
He came because love always moves toward us.

This — Immanuel, God with us — is what we celebrate.

🌿 Reflection

As you enter this season, ask yourself:

• Have questions or confusion ever dimmed your joy at Christmas?
  

• What helps your heart slow down and focus on Jesus during this season?
  

• How can you gently bring the meaning of Christmas back into your family traditions?
  
  

🌿 A Prayer for Today

Father, thank You for allowing me to find clarity that leads to peace. Quiet every confusing voice and help my heart rest fully in the truth of who Jesus is. Let this Christmas season draw me deeper into Your presence and fill my home with Your joy. Amen.

✨ Next Steps

This is just the beginning of our Christmas devotional journey.
➡️ Next Week’s Devotional: “Symbols of the Season: Finding Jesus in Our Traditions.”
We’ll explore Santa Claus, the Christmas tree, giving, and the faith-filled meaning woven into traditions many families hold dear.

If you’d like something meaningful to read while you wait for the next teaching, here are a few devotionals that pair beautifully with today’s message:

• Who Is Jesus… Really?

• Interpretation Is Everything

• Grace: The Unseen Gift That Changes Everything

• The Power and Purpose of the Blood of Jesus
  
  

Each one will help you deepen your understanding of Scripture, quiet your spirit, and draw closer to Christ during this season.

💬 I’d love to hear from you:
What part of today’s message brought you clarity or comfort?
Share your thoughts in the comments — your reflections bless others more than you know.

For more devotionals and faith-filled encouragement, visit HisWordsMinistry.com.