With all the hustle and bustle of the season, many people will be stressed out. The angel told the shepherds that Christ’s coming would bring “great joy…for all the people.” Are you experiencing the joy of the Lord as you prepare for Christmas?
One writer put it like this – “People feel pressure and not pleasure. It’s a time of duty and not a delight. They endure Christmas rather than enjoy it.”
In Romans 6:23 NLT we read, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Eternal life is the best and most expensive gift you will ever receive. It is priceless. You can’t earn it. You can’t purchase it because Jesus already paid for it by His death on the cross. Eternal life is just that – ETERNAL LIFE! It will last forever. Eternal life will sustain us for the rest of our lives here and prepare us to be with our Lord forever.
I am sure many, if not all of us, will be engaged in different kinds of activities throughout December. There will be decorating to do, parties to attend, and much, much more. Will Jesus be at the forefront of all you do or will He be forgotten amid all the trappings?
In Psalm 118:24 GNT we read, “This is the day of the Lord’s victory; let us be happy, let us celebrate!” Christmas should be an exciting and blessed time because we have come to know Christ, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Christ came to bring wholeness to our lives. Without Him, we know something is missing. We sense an emptiness and we look for different ways to satisfy the longing, but we never can apart from receiving Christ.
In 2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV we read, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is (she is) a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” How great is that! Are you dissatisfied with your present life? Why not exchange it for the new life that Christ wants to give you right now? This new life will set you on a course that will transform every aspect of your life. You will begin to think differently.
In Romans 12:3 CSB the Apostle Paul, who at one time did not believe Jesus was the Messiah and persecuted those who did, wrote – “For by the grace (unmerited favor) given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one.” You will begin to act and live differently. In Ephesians 5:8 CSB Paul wrote, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light…” His light shining in and through us should reveal the transforming presence and power of our God.
We will begin to relate to others differently as well. In Matthew 45:43-44 CSB Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” If we pray for those who are against us, and they receive Christ and become our friends, we have gained a great victory. Never underestimate the potential and power of fervent prayer. As we pray down here, our Lord is at the right hand of God’s throne interceding for us.
Over and over in the New Testament, we have the expression “one another”. Those words tell how we are to relate to each other – pray for one another, love one another, forgive one another, serve one another, build one another up, encourage one another. At least fifty times that expression appears in the inspired word of God. These are not suggestions. They are exhortations. We are expected to do as these words say. Can you imagine what our world would be like if all of us who know Christ personally would, by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, live out each of these exhortations daily? Take time to reflect on what I have written here. Ask the Holy Spirit to help carry out each of these exhortations daily, so that others can see Him and come to know Him.
In John 8:12 NLT Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”
Many years ago, I was in Haiti speaking at the dedication of a huge tabernacle that my church at the time raised the money to build and sent a team to construct. That night there were right at 2500 people present. While I was preaching the power failed and we were in total darkness. Then one by one people began to turn on their flashlights. Soon the darkness was gone and we could see everyone in that building. It could be that way in our world if each of us would let Christ’s light shine in and through us at Christmas and beyond. I pray that we will do exactly that.
In Christ alone,
Pastor Leonard
