“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.’” - Luke 2:10 NIV
There’s something about a Christmas party that awakens the kid in me and if we are honest, probably does the same to most all of us.
The lights.
The music.
The food that mysteriously tastes better in December.
The people who greet us with hugs instead of handshakes.
Even the awkward gift exchange somehow feels warm and right.
But beneath all of it—behind every string of lights and every plate of cookies—there’s a deeper invitation being whispered.
A holy one.
Because long before we ever circled dates on calendars for parties… God planned one of His own.
A celebration not built around ornaments, ugly sweaters, or peppermint bark…
but around a Savior.
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
- John 1:14 NIV
A Christmas party is really just a shadow of the original celebration.
The night heaven threw open its doors.
The night glory filled a stable.
The night angel warriors announced it to the world.
And here’s the thing—every time we walk into a Christmas gathering, we get a chance to remember that first party wasn’t exclusive.
It wasn’t by invitation only.
We didn’t have to bring a covered dish or wear our festive best.
It was for shepherds who smelled like sheep.
For a young couple who had no place to go.
For a world broken, tired, and longing for hope.
It was for people like us.
So maybe this year, as we head to our Christmas parties—office, church, family, neighborhood—we will step into them with a fresh understanding:
We’re not just attending a party.
We’re carrying one.
Because the joy of Jesus’ coming isn’t something we simply observe.
It’s something we bring with us.
At the punch bowl.
At the dinner table.
In the laughter.
In the quiet conversations.
In the moments someone needs a kind word more than a candy cane.
This season, we share the hope of Jesus wherever we go.
So go ahead—laugh, eat, celebrate.
But let’s lift our eyes too.
There’s still an announcement in the air.
Still glory in the story.
Still an invitation being whispered across the earth:
Come and see.
Come and rejoice.
Come and meet the Savior.
And that… is a real Christmas party.
Keep the Faith... Carpe Diem
