I have always relished the Christmas season in Singapore, for it has never failed to provide me with a good break from the humdrum of daily life. As a worker, I have always looked forward to the month of December: it’s usually a lull period at the workplace, as colleagues go on vacations with their children, and the weather is usually rainy.

Even though it doesn’t snow in Singapore, I craft my own version of a white Christmas, imagining the light raindrops to be snowflakes. I enjoy watching the pitter-patter on the foggy windows, with a warm Christmas drink from Starbucks in hand. And I take the opportunity to reflect upon the year that has just passed, while grooving to jazzy Christmas tunes about snow, fireplaces, and Santa.

Yet, as I listen intently to the lyrics, I often struggle to hear any reference to Jesus Christ—the very one whose birth we are celebrating this festive season. It has got me thinking about what Christmas should really look like. Surely it isn’t just about candy canes, toys, and snow, right? Just what should our celebration of Christmas be like?

Christmas celebrations nowadays are heavily influenced by secular culture. For many people, the year-end season is one of shopping, secret Santas, get-togethers, and partying.

In my extended family, we gather yearly for a good home-cooked meal and to exchange presents. My uncles and aunties bring mouth-watering food like roast turkey, curry chicken, pizza, cheesecake, and so on. I always look forward to the feast. We also exchange presents at the stroke of midnight; after tearing up the wrapping paper, we pose for a picture with the gifts. Yet, I often wonder about the purpose of exchanging presents.

Over the years, we have come to need things less, such that buying a suitable present for each cousin has become increasingly laborious. Although we put much thought into each present, sometimes a carefully wrapped gift is met with a muted response.

It is sometimes difficult to see what is so Christlike about our celebration of Christmas. Perhaps the limelight has been shifted away from Jesus, the birthday boy, and towards our merriment and pleasure.

As a Christian living in today’s culture, I find myself caught between celebrating the wonder of the Creator humbled as a baby and revelling in the celebration of the festive season. Sometimes, I lose sight of why we are even celebrating Christmas.

But there is a glimmer of hope! Every year, I take a trip down Orchard Road just to admire the elaborate Christmas light-up. Without fail, the display at one of the malls touches me, as it usually features a Bible verse. This year, it's

It is an overt presentation of the gospel in the city centre, that puts a biblical truth on display for all to see—Singaporeans and tourists alike. It is a rare chance to talk about God’s love.

Once, I was listening to some Christmas carols being played on the radio when I was struck to hear the words, “Christ the Saviour is born; Christ the Saviour is born.” The realisation rang in my head, clear as a bell: there is no other time in the year when we would hear such an unmistakable declaration about our Lord Jesus! Through the Bible verses on public display and Christmas carols being played on local radio, Jesus does have some limelight in this season, after all.

How should recounting the birth of Christ affect us? The people in biblical times set an exemplary precedence.

having travelled from afar, were overjoyed when they met the baby Jesus. They worshipped Him, and presented treasures and gifts to Him. It must have been absolutely profound for reputable and respected wise men to be worshipping a helpless child (see Matthew 2:1–12).

tending their flock at night, too, believed that the baby Jesus was indeed the Messiah and went around telling everyone about Him. It must have required immense faith to declare a baby resting in a manger as the long-awaited Saviour (see Luke 2:8–20). It is incredible that Jesus set aside the privileges of deity and humbly took the human form. As I think about the circumstances of His birth, I am filled with wonder at His lack of pride or vanity.

This one baby changed the course of history, that even millennia later, the world still celebrates His birth. While secular traditions have been mixed into our celebrations of the birth of Jesus Christ, let us follow the pattern set for us by those who experienced the very first Christmas.

The hearts of the wise men were overflowing with joy as they marvelled at the child Jesus, the incarnation of God himself. They presented themselves in awestruck worship. May we be like the shepherds who unabashedly and excitedly went about telling people about the birth of Jesus.

Indeed, this is the reason why we celebrate Christmas: to tell of Jesus’ birth and the salvation that He offers us. We can focus the limelight more on Christ in our conversations with friends and loved ones; for the cues are already there, snugly found in Christmas carols and festive decorations.

This was first published on selah.sg and adapted with permission.