Every year my neighbor sets up his outdoor Christmas display. He has inflatable decorations that have internal fans and lights to simulate animation, various lights hanging on the house, and other festive decorations. It was the inflatable decorations however, that caught my attention. In an odd kind of way, they accurately depict the life of a Christian. Let me explain.

When the decorations are plugged in to a power source, the fans blow, and the decoration inflates. As long as the decorations are plugged in to a power source, the lights are lit and the animations are performed. But what happens when there is no power? The animation stops, the lights extinguish, and the decoration deflates. It lies in a lifeless heap on the ground.

Christians are exactly the same. We need to be plugged into God, our power source. When we are plugged into God, things happen. When we are plugged into God, we grow spiritually, we become a light in the darkness, and we advance His kingdom. But what happens when there is no power? The work for God stops, the lights extinguish, and our life deflates. We find ourselves in a lifeless heap on the ground.

This Christmas season we need to make sure that we are plugged into the power source. We need to make sure that we are plugged into God. How do we do that? How do we plug into God? First, you need to be saved. If you have not done so, you need to accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. It is actually very simple to do this. Simply admit that you are a sinner, be willing to turn from your sins (repent), believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the Cross and rose from the grave, and through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to come in and control your life through the Holy Spirit (receive Him as Lord and Savior).

For those of you who are already Christians, you need to make sure that you stay plugged into God. If you don't stay plugged into God, you will not grow spiritually, you will not be a light in the darkness, and you will not cause the kingdom of God to expand. So how do we stay plugged into God? Follow the steps listed below.

1. Keep your focus on God. Hebrews 12:3
2. Study the Bible daily.Psalm 119:11, 2Timothy 2:15
3. Pray daily. 1 Thessalonians 5:17
4. Attend church regularly. Hebrews 10:25
5. Learn from Christian friends. Proverbs 13:20
6. Tell others about your faith in Jesus Christ. Mark 16:15

Following these steps is how we stay plugged into God. It takes effort on our part, but it is worth the effort. You may not realize it, but you are a Christmas decoration for God. He sets you outside with his other decorations so that you can influence the world for Christ. You cannot influence the world for Christ if you are not plugged in. So stay plugged into God, because he is the power source of Christmas. Make the determination that you are going to be the best decoration for God that you can possibly be. Let us be a positive influence this Christmas season. Let us show the world the true meaning of Christmas, by showing them the power source of Christmas.