Clinging to the Message of the Cross at Christmas - Encouragement for Today - December 23, 2025

Carbonatix Pre-Player Loader

Audio By Carbonatix

Proverbs 31 Ministries banner

Kia StephensDecember 23, 2025

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.

width

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

 

Salem News Channel Today

Sponsored Links


September 26 - Phoenix, AZ
Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts


November 2 - Detroit, MI
Zion Christian Church in Troy


October 6 - Los Angeles, CA
Pasadena Convention Center


November 5 - San Antonio, TX
Norris Centers – The Grand Red Oak Ballroom


October 8 - Sacramento, CA
William Jessup University


November 7 - Tampa, FL
The Palladium at St. Pete College


October 22 - Minneapolis, MN
Crowne Plaza AiRE


November 15 - San Francisco, CA
Fremont Marriott Silicon Valley


October 23 - Philadelphia, PA
Green Valley Country Club


November 16 - Denver, CO
CU South Denver - Formerly Wildlife Experience


November 2 - Chicago, IL
Chicago Westin Northwest in Itasca


November 21 - Cleveland, OH
Holiday Inn Rockside in Independence



Salem Radio Network Speakers

Larry Elder is an American lawyer, writer, and radio and television personality who calls himself the "Sage of South Central" a district of Los Angeles, Larry says his philosophy is to entertain, inform, provoke and to hopefully uplift. His calling card is "we have a country to save" and to him this means returning to the bedrock Constitutional principles of limited government and maximum personal responsibility. Elder's iconoclastic wit and intellectual agility makes him a particularly attractive voice in a nation that seems weary of traditional racial dialogue.” – Los Angeles Times.

Mike Gallagher Mike Gallagher began his broadcasting career in 1978 in Dayton, Ohio. Today, he is one of the most listened-to talk radio show hosts in America, recently having been ranked in the Talkers Magazine “Heavy Hundred” list – the 100 most important talk radio hosts in America. Prior to being launched into national syndication in 1998, Mike hosted the morning show on WABC-AM in New York City. Today, Talkers Magazine reports that his show is heard by over 3.75 million weekly listeners. Besides his radio work, Mike is seen on Fox News Channel as an on-air contributor, frequently appearing on the cable news giant.

Hugh Hewitt is one of the nation’s leading bloggers and a genuine media revolutionary. He brings that expertise, his wit and what The New Yorker magazine calls his “amiable but relentless manner” to his nationally syndicated show each day.

When Dr. Sebastian Gorka was growing up, he listened to talk radio under his pillow with a transistor radio, dreaming that one day he would be behind the microphone. Beginning New Year’s Day 2019, he got his wish. Gorka now hosts America First every weekday afternoon 3 to 6pm ET. Gorka’s unique story works well on the radio. He is national security analyst for the Fox News Channel and author of two books: "Why We Fight" and "Defeating Jihad." His latest book releasing this fall is “War For America’s Soul.” He is uniquely qualified to fight the culture war and stand up for what is great about America, his adopted home country.

Broadcasting from his home station of KRLA in Los Angeles, the Dennis Prager Show is heard across the country. Everything in life – from politics to religion to relationships – is grist for Dennis’ mill. If it’s interesting, if it affects your life, then Dennis will be talking about it – with passion, humor, insight and wisdom.

Sean Hannity is a conservative radio and television host, and one of the original primetime hosts on the Fox News Channel, where he has appeared since 1996. Sean Hannity began his radio career at a college station in California, before moving on to markets in the Southeast and New York. Today, he’s one of the most listened to on-air voices. Hannity’s radio program went into national syndication on September 10, 2001, and airs on more than 500 stations. Talkers Magazine estimates Hannity’s weekly radio audience at 13.5 million. In 1996 he was hired as one of the original hosts on Fox News Channel. As host of several popular Fox programs, Hannity has become the highest-paid news anchor on television.

Michelle Malkin is a mother, wife, blogger, conservative syndicated columnist, longtime cable TV news commentator, and best-selling author of six books. She started her newspaper journalism career at the Los Angeles Daily News in 1992, moved to the Seattle Times in 1995, and has been penning nationally syndicated newspaper columns for Creators Syndicate since 1999. She is founder of conservative Internet start-ups Hot Air and Twitchy.com. Malkin has received numerous awards for her investigative journalism, including the Council on Governmental Ethics Laws (COGEL) national award for outstanding service for the cause of governmental ethics and leadership (1998), the Reed Irvine Accuracy in Media Award for Investigative Journalism (2006), the Heritage Foundation and Franklin Center for Government & Public Integrity's Breitbart Award for Excellence in Journalism (2013), the Center for Immigration Studies' Eugene Katz Award for Excellence in the Coverage of Immigration Award (2016), and the Manhattan Film Festival's Film Heals Award (2018). Married for 26 years and the mother of two teenage children, she lives with her family in Colorado. Follow her at michellemalkin.com. (Photo reprinted with kind permission from Peter Duke Photography.)

Sponsored by:

Clinging to the Message of the Cross at Christmas - Encouragement for Today - December 23, 2025

Carbonatix Pre-Player Loader

Audio By Carbonatix

Proverbs 31 Ministries banner

Kia StephensDecember 23, 2025

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.

width

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

 

Salem News Channel Today

Sponsored Links

On Air & Up Next

See the Full Program Guide