It's almost Christmas. A very special time for Christians as we celebrate Christ's coming to the world! But how are we going to spend this festive season in 2014? To answer this question we need to think what Christmas mean to us on a very personal and powerful level. The answer will differ for each of us as each of us is different and very unique.
For me Christmas is always a time spent with family and friends who also serve God. Within this circle of friends and family, I find the overflowing love of God touching my life. We give small gifts and have a lot of fun! Gifts do not have to be big, expensive or impressive - but it do need to come from a heart of love - otherwise it lose it's meaning. Gifts should also remind you of the biggest and best and awesome GIFT God gave us namely Jesus Christ His Son.
Without Jesus there will be no Christmas to celebrate. Christmas will become X-mas! Only people who celebrate Christmas without Christ will describe it as "X-mas"! Jesus Christ was born to walk the earth with humans with the purpose of changing humans' lives as none other ever has or ever will. Philippians 2:6 tells us to have the same mindset as Jesus had:
6. Who, being in very nature[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7. rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature[b] of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
6. Who, being in very nature[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7. rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature[b] of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Yes God invites you and me to feast this Christmas with the same spirit that Jesus Christ brought to the earth in humbleness and with serving hearts! How do I intend to spend this Christmas?
I want to remember God and his presence through his Spirit that live within me (WOW!!!) while serving the people I love, the people I'm going to meet in this time and the people I know but did not think were important to me. I want to tell people X-mas should actually be Christmas because the living God sent his living Son to become human for us so that he could give us the biggest sacrifice ever when he died on the cross. I want to be obedient in sharing not only God's love but also His Word!
My challenge will be to tell people about what God did for us! I do not want to share this with only the people I know - but with everybody that cross my path this Christmas. I want to shout His name from the rooftops! I want to share God's biggest, greatest, most awesome gift He gave me with you and every person who may cross my path!
How do you plan to share your Christmas this year?
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| Merry Christmas from a sunny South Africa! |
