The Christmas season often emphasizes gifts, decorations, and festivities, but at its core lies a profound message of belonging. During our final week of Regifted, we focused on themes exploring how the story of Jesus fundamentally transforms outsiders into insiders.
The narrative of Christmas consistently demonstrates God’s pattern of choosing unlikely participants. Consider Zechariah and Elizabeth, an elderly couple who had given up hope of having children. Rather than relegating them to the sidelines, God placed them at the center of His plan by making them the parents of John the Baptist, whose mission was to announce that the long wait for the Messiah was over. Their story challenges the idea that anyone is too old or too late to play a significant role in God’s purpose.
Similarly, Mary’s selection as the mother of Jesus exemplifies God’s counter-cultural approach. As a young, unmarried woman from an unremarkable town, she wouldn’t have been considered significant by societal standards. Yet God chose her for the most crucial role in the Christmas narrative. This choice serves as a powerful reminder that youth doesn’t disqualify anyone from making a meaningful impact.
The shepherds’ inclusion in the story further reinforces this theme. Despite their low social status and literal position on the outskirts of society, they became the first recipients of the news of Jesus’s birth. The angels could have appeared to religious leaders or palace officials, but instead chose these marginalized workers as the initial witnesses to this world-changing event.
The Gospel of John approaches this theme of belonging from a different angle, using poetic language to convey deep truth. He describes Jesus as “the true light that gives light to everyone” coming into a world marked by darkness. This darkness manifests in various ways – from global tragedies like school shootings to personal struggles and broken relationships that often become more apparent during the holiday season.
What’s remarkable is that Jesus deliberately stepped into this darkness. He didn’t avoid it or pretend it didn’t exist. Instead, as John writes, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” This wasn’t a distant deity maintaining safe separation from human mess; this was God choosing to immerse Himself in human experience, including its darkest aspects.
Jesus’s ministry consistently demonstrated this principle. When religious leaders criticized Him for associating with tax collectors – considered the worst of social outcasts – He responded with a medical metaphor: “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” His point was clear: He came precisely for those who recognized their need for healing and transformation.
The invitation to belong to God’s family comes with a surprising simplicity: “To all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” This adoption into God’s family isn’t just adding another title to one’s identity; it fundamentally changes everything about a person’s existence and purpose.
This understanding of belonging carries practical implications for how we live, particularly during the Christmas season. First, it challenges us to “make room at our table.” This isn’t about perfect hosting or elaborate meals; it’s about creating space in our homes and hearts for those who might otherwise be alone during the holidays. Whether it’s international students far from home or neighbors without family nearby, the call is to extend the belonging we’ve received.
One family exemplified this by starting a small Thanksgiving gathering that grew to include 80 people in their basement. The focus wasn’t on perfect presentation but on creating a space where everyone could belong. This approach to hospitality emphasizes accessibility over perfection, encouraging people to open their homes despite their limitations or insecurities about hosting.
Second, belonging motivates engagement with community needs. The church implemented a “dollar a week” challenge, demonstrating how small individual contributions can collectively make a significant impact in supporting vulnerable community members. This practical expression of care shows people they matter not just spiritually but materially.
Finally, the message of belonging shapes how churches approach Christmas Eve services. Rather than seeing these gatherings as exclusive events for existing members, they become opportunities to extend welcome to those seeking community or exploring faith. The emphasis is on having “a chair at our table” for anyone who might come.
The Christmas story reveals that Jesus came specifically for those in darkness, not to condemn but to transform. He entered human experience fully, engaging with the aspects of our lives we’d rather hide. This divine initiative to create belonging becomes the model for how we engage with others – not waiting for them to become perfect or acceptable, but welcoming them as they are while believing in their potential for transformation.
In a season often marked by isolation and loneliness for many, this message of belonging offers hope and practical direction. It challenges us to move beyond our comfort zones, open our homes despite their imperfections, and actively create spaces where others can experience the kind of welcome God extends to all. The true gift of Christmas isn’t found under a tree but in the radical inclusion that Jesus demonstrated and continues to offer through his followers today.
Check out our website for more information. We always welcome new friends to worship with us. Find a location that’s close to you!
You can learn more about our beliefs and visit our video library to explore more topics like this one. You can also check out our events page to find out what fun new things we’re doing this season.
