In my part of the world, Christmas Day is almost over. With all the hustle and bustle of family get-togethers, gift unwrapping, celebration meal preparations, tradition of going to church on Christmas day that comes with it, I sat down to reflect on what this day really means to me and probably for all of us
For many this is a jolly season, a season of holidays, a season of festivities, a season of break, a season of quality family time.
For many Christians like me, it is a day of Hope, a day of rejoicing, a day of light when love become real in the form of Jesus and redeemed each and every one of us from the clutches of sin. The Word of God confirms that in John 3:16
6 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.
Jesus lived a life of sacrifice and love. To a world drowning in its own desires and wants, Jesus is the life boat that can save us.
Matthew 11:15 Whoever has ears, let Him hear
Imagine the world celebrates Christmas with its own ‘Xmas’ changes to it. STILL, Christmas is ONE day when people come together in a family to a lunch / dinner table putting aside all their differences, it’s ONE day when they take a break from work to spend quality time with their extended families, it’s ONE day when we want to do something for the underprivileged, it’s ONE day when people extend their heart of generosity for kids that never receive a present, it’s ONE day when forgiveness is extended, it’s ONE day when few step into a church for the first time, it’s one day when separated parents for once agree on their child custody for spending time with the child.
From what I have noticed it’s ONE day when people choose love instead of hate irrespective of situations, forgiveness instead of revenge irrespective of circumstances and extend grace like never before all with a smile, as it’s CHRISTmas. I see the spirit of CHRIST in every home during this season in one form or the other
If ONE CHRISTmas day has so much impact in our personal lives, how much more will there be peace and joy on this earth, how much more will there be love and hope reinstated , if ONLY we chose to celebrate all our days like CHRISTmas
Today calls for restoration of our faith in love, in peace, in joy, in hope through belief in Jesus Christ. That is shown in our acts of love and kindness towards our own self and towards each other .
Today I want to introduce you to the way of love
1 Corinthians 13 The Message (MSG)
The Way of Love
13 If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.
2 If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing.
A sacrificial love that Jesus willingly gave up His life for the you and me, just so we can live a life free of sin.
Today I encourage you to CHOOSE LOVE
Today I encourage you to LOVE like CHRIST
That will be the greatest gift of all, that we can give Jesus, for His birthday today.
7 If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
8-10 Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.
If we want to love like Jesus, we need the help of the author of the perfector of our faith. We cannot and do not have to do it alone. You might be thinking your life is over , or you are in your deepest pit, you might feel like nothing is going to change…….BUT
I have a word of HOPE for you. When going through a fire, if we focus on how bad the fire is , we are not helping ourselves in any way to get out of the fire. We risk ourselves being burnt by that fire. Rather we focus on how to get out of the fire, that will potentially save our lives. Today I want to encourage you to trust a God Jesus, who not only wants to quench the fire that’s burning your soul but also wants to refresh your soul with his living water that gives life. All you need is to believe. This is the day that the Lord has made. Do not let the day pass without receiving His gift of eternal life for yourself.
Prayer
The Sinners Prayer ( by Dr. Ray Pritchard )
Lord Jesus, for too long I’ve kept you out of my life. I know that I am a sinner and that I cannot save myself. No longer will I close the door when I hear you knocking. By faith I gratefully receive your gift of salvation. I am ready to trust you as my Lord and Savior. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for coming to earth. I believe you are the Son of God who died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead on the third day. Thank you for bearing my sins and giving me the gift of eternal life. I believe your words are true. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus, and be my Savior. Amen.
Stay Blessed in Him
fromHisHearttoyours 