Misplacing Jesus: When Holiday Routines Replace Heavenly Worship

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Have you ever misplaced something incredibly valuable right in your own home?

    You scramble around the house in a frantic rush, tearing through room after room, only to realize your keys, phone, or wallet were sitting right under your nose the entire time. You didn't mean to lose them—you just got distracted by the hurry of the day. If I am honest with you this happens to me a lot!! 

Every Christmas season revolves around two miraculous, heart-stirring truths:

  1. God came down to us in the form of a baby (The Miracle).

  2. We are invited to go to Him in humble worship (The Response).

    We put up our nativity scenes, hang lights, buy gifts, wrap packages, and schedule every hour of December.  Then there are the school plays, company parties, and plans we make with our families and friends. We try to pack as much Christmas joy in 30 days as possible.  Yet, in the midst of all this holiday hustle and bustle, I believe a subtle tragedy often unfolds: we get so busy doing Christmas that we forget to actually have Christmas.

    In Luke there is a story where Mary and Joseph were so busy with a local celebration that they forgot Jesus was no longer with them. It is in this story that we see what can happen when we get too busy for Jesus, something I feel that can be guilty of during the Christmas Season. 

“And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him. Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.” (Luk 2:40-46)

    In Luke chapter 2, Mary and Joseph traveled an entire day’s journey away from Jerusalem before realizing a terrifying truth: they had left 12-year-old Jesus behind. They didn't abandon Him out of malice; they simply assumed He was somewhere in the crowd while they were caught up in the travel routine.

    Is it possible that, like Jesus’ parents, we have misplaced Jesus in the middle of our own Christmas traditions? Sadly I believe it is. 

    Here are three ways we subtly substitute religious and holiday routines for authentic worship—and how we can turn back to Him this season.

1. When Routines Become Repetitive

    Mary and Joseph had traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover every single year for 12 straight years. It was a regular, predictable part of their annual calendar. That predictability is fertile ground for complacency.

    But over time, familiar routines can cause the awe and significance of God's promises to fade, replacing true meaning with mere repetition. It is easy for Christmas traditions—decorating the tree, attending church services, host gathering after gathering—to turn into a mechanical checklist. When routine replaces reflection, we go through the motions without ever contemplating who Jesus is or why He came.

     This week, establish a new intentional habit to ground your mind in Christ. Try discussing the different biblical names of Jesus around the dinner table with your family, or spend five minutes every morning reading a chapter of the Gospels before opening your phone or gift lists. Don't let the routine of Christmas keep you from the importance of the season and its true life giving meaning. 

2. When Busyness Blinds Us to His Presence

    Jesus’ parents got distracted by the crowd. They were catching up with long-lost relatives, talking with friends, and discussing the latest news from Jerusalem. Much like we do during our Christmas season. They weren't doing bad things; they were simply overloaded with noise and social distractions. 

    In our modern world, we process thousands of sensory inputs and notifications every day. When our schedules are crammed full of holiday shopping, event planning, and endless notifications, we naturally drown out the low-volume, high-priority voice of God's Spirit. 

     As author Corrie ten Boom wisely observed: "If the devil can't make you sin, he will make you busy." Busyness is often the greatest thief of spiritual intimacy. When you feel rushed, overwhelmed, or anxious, that is your spiritual check-engine light telling you to STOP.

    Create a holy pause. Before entering a store, family event, or church service, stop in your car for 60 seconds. Take a deep breath, quiet your mind, and pray: "Lord, help me focus on You in this moment rather than my to-do list." If you don't have a regular time of personal private devotions, take this season to start one. Take time to schedule time for God and your personal walk with God. 

3. When We Assume Jesus Is Along for the Ride

     Mary and Joseph didn't deliberately abandon Jesus—they were just careless. They assumed He was in the group, running ahead on His own path without actually checking to see if He was there.

    How often do we plan our entire holiday schedule, budget, and commitments, and then simply ask God to "bless our plans," rather than asking Him what He wants us to focus on? Many of us never consider that God wants to be apart of your Christmas traditions. 

    We often confuse having a nativity scene on our mantle with keeping Jesus at the center of our lives. But external religious symbols can never replace internal spiritual surrender. We are often guilty of trying to lead Jesus where we want to go, rather than letting Him lead us. 

Take a honest inventory. Ask yourself the hard question: "Am I following Christ in my daily holiday schedule, or am I going my own way and just assuming He is tag-along support?"

Restoring What Was Lost

    Notice a sobering detail in Luke 2: Mary and Joseph walked one day away from Jesus, but it took them three full days to return to Jerusalem, search the streets, and find Him.

    It always takes far longer to rebuild spiritual momentum and intimacy than it does to drift away through carelessness. But the wonderful news of Christmas is that Jesus isn't hiding from you. When Mary and Joseph returned to the Temple, Jesus was right where He was supposed to be, doing His Father's work.

    If you feel distant from God this holiday season, don't wait. Drop the superficial masks, pause the frantic hustle, and turn your heart back toward the Savior who knows you fully and loves you unconditionally.

Questions for Reflection & Discussion

  1. What is one specific distraction you can cut out this week to make quiet space for God?

  2. In what areas of your life are you assuming Jesus is with you, rather than actively seeking His direction?


Let me leave you this with one final thought; 

"God is far more concerned with the state of your heart than the strict perfection of your routines."

Location: Ashmore, IL 61912, USA

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