Christmastime is a season of great joy, goodwill and celebration! But this joy and celebration will be hollow if we do not discern, and focus our celebration on, the person and purpose behind “Christmas”.
"Who" are we celebrating and "Why" are we celebrating this obviously important person? Why the Christmas dinners, the exchange of gifts, the rejoicing, the colourful decorations and the general sense of goodwill all around. In a nutshell: JESUS CHRIST!
Without equivocation, Jesus Christ gives Christmas its meaning. God our Creator has stepped out of eternity and stepped into time in human form, and Christmas celebrates this message of love, hope, redemption, and peace. A Saviour is born; the Redeemer has come to buy our freedom from sin and give us peace.
How enthralling it was on that Holy night, therefore, that the angel should make a proclamation of "joy" to the world as he heralded the birth of the most important person to ever enter the history of humankind. The news of Jesus’s birth and what it meant for humanity was to be the source of the greatest and purest joy. It provoked such angelic fanfare that night as is no doubt still appropriate for us to commemorate even today and always!
The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid! I have good news for you, a message that will fill everyone with joy. Today your Saviour, Christ the Lord, was born in David’s city”… Suddenly, a large army of angels appeared with the angel. They were praising God by saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those who have his good will!” (Luke 2:10–11, 13-14, GW)
At Christmas the entire world is suddenly enveloped in the spirit of love and of joy just as the angels declared on that first Christmas. And despite the contamination and commercialization of the celebrations today, it is by no means contrived that “Christ-mass should elicit such universal atmosphere of joy, hope, goodwill and love.
Ultimately, the "idea" of Christmas is God's. It is written, "when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons." (Galatians 4:4-5). This is not man's invention and not pagan, but a celebration of "the work of God"! Strip away all the customs and traditions dubious origin that surround Christmas and what remains is Jesus Christ, God's message of hope to a hopeless world!
The "good news" and "great joy" which the birth of Christ represents must then have pride of place in our hearts and take centre stage in everything we do, not only at this unique date reserved for special celebration, but all year long and for all time. The scripture says in John’s Gospel:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16, NIV)
Dear Christian, as you exchange gifts this Christmastime, and in your giving at other times, strive to imitate God your Father by giving with a sustained heart of compassion in direct expression of the motive for which He Himself gave the precious gift which we received from Him at that first Christmas.
The Bible says, "Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another" (1 John 4:11, NIV). The joy of this new and living way which Christ has opened to us for unfettered access to the Father should now fill our hearts with comfort and joy.
And at the heart of Christmas is Jesus Christ and His love. Anything less is alien to the true Christianity.
Rejoice, child of God! The devil did not create joy and rejoicing! It's all about Jesus Christ who is the express revelation of the Father’s love for us.
I pray that the life and love of Christ shines like a light through you, empowering you to impact someone’s life through your genuine expression of unconditional love and kindness toward them this Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
Pastor Victor
"Who" are we celebrating and "Why" are we celebrating this obviously important person? Why the Christmas dinners, the exchange of gifts, the rejoicing, the colourful decorations and the general sense of goodwill all around. In a nutshell: JESUS CHRIST!
Without equivocation, Jesus Christ gives Christmas its meaning. God our Creator has stepped out of eternity and stepped into time in human form, and Christmas celebrates this message of love, hope, redemption, and peace. A Saviour is born; the Redeemer has come to buy our freedom from sin and give us peace.
How enthralling it was on that Holy night, therefore, that the angel should make a proclamation of "joy" to the world as he heralded the birth of the most important person to ever enter the history of humankind. The news of Jesus’s birth and what it meant for humanity was to be the source of the greatest and purest joy. It provoked such angelic fanfare that night as is no doubt still appropriate for us to commemorate even today and always!
The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid! I have good news for you, a message that will fill everyone with joy. Today your Saviour, Christ the Lord, was born in David’s city”… Suddenly, a large army of angels appeared with the angel. They were praising God by saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those who have his good will!” (Luke 2:10–11, 13-14, GW)
At Christmas the entire world is suddenly enveloped in the spirit of love and of joy just as the angels declared on that first Christmas. And despite the contamination and commercialization of the celebrations today, it is by no means contrived that “Christ-mass should elicit such universal atmosphere of joy, hope, goodwill and love.
Ultimately, the "idea" of Christmas is God's. It is written, "when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons." (Galatians 4:4-5). This is not man's invention and not pagan, but a celebration of "the work of God"! Strip away all the customs and traditions dubious origin that surround Christmas and what remains is Jesus Christ, God's message of hope to a hopeless world!
The "good news" and "great joy" which the birth of Christ represents must then have pride of place in our hearts and take centre stage in everything we do, not only at this unique date reserved for special celebration, but all year long and for all time. The scripture says in John’s Gospel:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16, NIV)
Dear Christian, as you exchange gifts this Christmastime, and in your giving at other times, strive to imitate God your Father by giving with a sustained heart of compassion in direct expression of the motive for which He Himself gave the precious gift which we received from Him at that first Christmas.
The Bible says, "Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another" (1 John 4:11, NIV). The joy of this new and living way which Christ has opened to us for unfettered access to the Father should now fill our hearts with comfort and joy.
And at the heart of Christmas is Jesus Christ and His love. Anything less is alien to the true Christianity.
Rejoice, child of God! The devil did not create joy and rejoicing! It's all about Jesus Christ who is the express revelation of the Father’s love for us.
I pray that the life and love of Christ shines like a light through you, empowering you to impact someone’s life through your genuine expression of unconditional love and kindness toward them this Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
Pastor Victor
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