Clinging to the Message of the Cross at Christmas
KIA STEPHENS
Lee en español
“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” Genesis 3:15 (NIV)
We had barely inched into October, I was still wearing flip-flops, and the fall leaves hadn’t changed color — yet a popular retailer had already begun setting up its Christmas decorations.
Immediately I felt the urge to purchase my annual ornament. I was also tempted to go ahead and get a good deal on Christmas lights, thinking, This year will be even bigger and better.
With two months to go, I was all-in, ready to bypass the other holidays in anticipation of the one I loved the most, Christmas.
In that moment, my eagerness was not rooted in anything about Christ. It was steeped in the surface things: light displays, Christmas parties, gifts, food, rom-coms, and other activities we traditionally associate with the season.
While there is nothing wrong with our traditions, amid all the shiny distractions, God desires we cling to the message of the cross at Christmas.
It is difficult to understand the magnitude of this message without looking at the very beginning. In Genesis 1, God masterfully established the entire world in six days. He then gave instructions to the first humans, Adam and Eve, to be fruitful and enjoy His creation but “not [to] eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 2:17, NIV). Instead, they listened to a serpent's lies and disobeyed.
The consequences for their disobedience were long-lasting and far-reaching, impacting my life and yours. As a result of their decision, humanity was immediately separated from God. Sin and death entered the world, and there was no solution and no hope to fix the problem on our own. Although humankind was created in perfection, with a single taste of the forbidden fruit, brokenness was introduced into the world.
Yet because of God’s great, compassionate love and grace, in the same chapter where we see the devastating problem, God also provided the solution: Jesus Christ. He was the prophesied baby King who would one day crush the head of the serpent. As God said in Genesis 3:15:
“I will put enmity between you [the serpent] and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
Now we who believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are reconciled back to our heavenly Father forever.
Even though this Christmas season should point us directly to the sacrificial love of our Savior, the distractions of this life can cause us to forget. We can place mangers on our mantles and light candles at Christmas vigils yet still not remember how hopeless we would be without Jesus.
This year, as we enjoy the peripheral things of Christmas, may we cling to the primary reason our beloved holiday exists: the life-changing birth of our Savior.
Heavenly Father, help me to remember that the hope of this season is found in the birth, death, and resurrection of my Savior. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
OUR FAVORITE THINGS
It’s almost Christmas — a season when hope takes center stage. And your gift can be part of making sure women everywhere experience that same hope in God’s Word. Through our year-end match, every dollar you give by December 31 will be doubled up to $87,500. That means it will release more devotions, more Bible studies, and more opportunities for women to know God hasn’t forgotten them. This Christmas, your generosity is a gift that points women back to the One who came to bring lasting peace. Give now, and share the hope of Jesus this season.
ENGAGE
Join Kia on her YouTube channel as she shares more on the topic of “Clinging to the Message of the Cross at Christmas.” You can also connect with Kia on Instagram and learn more about her book, Overcoming Father Wounds, on her website.
FOR DEEPER STUDY
Romans 16:20, “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you” (NIV).
How does clinging to the message of the cross reframe this season of the year? How might God be leading you to shift your focus this Christmas?
We’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments.
© 2025 by Kia Stephens. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org
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