Essentials During The Christmas Season (3.5 mins read)

LOVE – JOY – PEACE – HOPE

LOVE

Do we find true love in this world when all our relationships are failing? Love has become so complex and twisted for those who live in this generation. The love we show or receive today is strings attached with a lot of expectations. The Bible describes the state of love vividly in Mat 24:12 “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold”.

Christmas message is something special and warm that reminds us God so loved us that he gave his only son to be born in this world and that he should die for us one day for the forgiveness of our sins on the cross. He was born to die for all of us. What an amazing sacrificial love it is.

JOY

The well-known song Joy to the World exhorts its listeners with these words: “Let earth receive her King; let every heart prepare Him room,” meaning that each person is called to embrace Jesus Christ, as both Savior and King.

Luke 2: 10 “And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people”

We live in a world of intimidation that keeps us fearful to face life. Whether at schools, universities, offices, and within family fear is a real threat to true joy.  

Joy is not dependent on any circumstances. Joy is something we can experience even when we go through pain and suffering.

Let's experience this Joy that God can give us through his son Jesus and spread the fragrance of joy around us this season.

PEACE

Across the world, people are deprived of peace. Nations need peace between the borders. Families need peace at home. Working professionals need peace at the office. Where to look for this peace? Jesus said in Jn 14:27 - Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.

Talking about peace on earth is popular at Christmas time, and appropriately so, for Jesus did come to bring peace. Primarily, He came to bring us peace with God, which is what Charles Wesley meant when he penned the song Hark the Herald Angels sing, "God and sinners reconciled." We all have sinned against God; we have broken His commandments and thus made ourselves His enemies. God in Christ made reconciliation a possible reality for all of us.

The question we need to ask ourselves is have we reconciled with this Holy God and have made peace with Him?

Romans 5:1 - Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

HOPE

This is the season of hope for all the hopeless conditions that we go through in our lives.
Where can we find hope in all our hopelessness?

God’s simple solution for man’s complex problems and hopeless situations is a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

If you believe this Jesus as you read through these lines then Love – Peace – Joy and hope is yours eternally. These essentials are assured for those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Today is the day for us to confess all our wrongdoings (which the bible calls our sins) to Jesus and believe what he died for us on the Cross taking our sins and shame. Let us surrender our lives to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and accept him as our Lord and Savior to be a new person all together. 2 Cor 5: 17 - Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Christ will be born in our Hearts by faith to bring this newness and we can enjoy these realities experiencing true love, and unspeakable Joy filled with peace in our hearts. Christ in us is the Hope of glory. This is an incentive for us to celebrate this season meaningfully.  

Romans 15: 13 - May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Have a Blessed Christmas season!

Gloria Deo!