Christmas is the time of year Christians have the home field advantage. Arguably the biggest global holiday of the year centers around the birth of one person: Jesus Christ.
Jesus may be now be sharing the stage with a whole cast of characters from Santa Claus to Frosty to the Nutcracker but He is still the main attraction.
A “home field” advantage assumes conditions of the environment are beneficial to the home team. It is more than a state of mind. For example, this Sunday, the Green Bay Packers enjoyed the benefit of facing the Houston Texans at home at Lambeau Field. But that’s not all. It was snowing. A lot. The visitors from perennially warm Houston are not used to playing in the Frozen Tundra. This is the power of a home field advantage.
And we have an even more powerful one this season.
But how often do we miss it entirely? We turn inward with stress and busyness or sucked into the commercialism and sentimentalism of “secularized” Christmas trimmings. This is the one time of the year when “Christ” literally shows up on our televisions, our secular music radio stations, and even in our schools and offices. So what are you going to do about it?
Here’s what I am not talking about: correcting people when they say “Happy Holidays” or losing your mind when a certain coffee shop chain decides to use plain, red cups for the season. Those are distractions.
Home field advantage means we, as Christians, claim the holiness of the holiday at every turn. We have the chance to exude the message of Joy to the World, the Prince of Peace, and share the only gift ever given that has literally changed the world.
Yes, he’s making a list and he’s checking it twice, but not to see who’s been naughty or nice – God lavishes grace upon us.
And yes, He sees you when you’re sleeping and He knows when you’re awake but God’s omniscience is not ‘why’ we’re good when no one else is looking! It’s a comfort and a counsel and a companion.
Yes, Santa Claus is coming to town but the Savior of the World upstages Santa. Christians, claim your home field advantage this Christmas – the lesser gods of culture may win a few squeals and take credit for presents under the tree, but only we can explain the presence of the living God wrapped in human flesh delivered as the One to deliver all of us.
Here is some homework: How can you, your church or your family make a plan to utilize all the benefits of the season’s home field advantage?