It is right for us Christians to celebrate Christmas. The world has adopted Christmas and turned it into what they want it to be. We Christians must celebrate Christmas to redirect the world to Christ. They have found a canning way to remove Christ from Christmas – they call it Xmas. Christ was born to save men from the shameful deeds of the world.
That is what is captured in Isaiah Chapter nine. “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.” Today there are many still walking in that great darkness. They must be made to see the light of Christ. That is why we must not celebrate Christmas like the rest of the world does. There must be a difference between us who have seen the light and them who have not, or are yet to see the light.
Christ came to change the world and to direct it to righteousness. He has come to rule the world not as how the political rulers do. His government is peace. That is why He is called the Prince of Peace. We need peace in our lives, the world needs peace. In our celebration of Christmas, let us make the world have peace.
The Essence of Christmas
There is no indication in the Bible that enjoins us to celebrate the birth of Christ. But since we have come to adopt it as a way of remembering the work of Christ, it is our duty that we let the world see the work of Christ. Jesus came to save the sinner. His coming is not to legitimize sin. There is so much sin during the celebration of Christian festivals. It will be good if through our celebration of Christmas, we will help reduce the number of sin committed.
People steal, cheat, and kill just to celebrate Christmas. There are a lot of Christmas orgies where men and woman throw away their dignity. Go round town this evening and see what will be going on in the various entertainment centres. The spirit of Herod is still at work in the celebration of Christmas. As people indulge in all kinds of promiscuous lives, the next thing some of them do after getting pregnant is to abort the pregnancies. That is what Herod did when Christ was born. We Christians must change this situation. Christmas must bring peace to the world.
For those of us Christians, the essence of Christmas is in Titus 2:11 – 14.
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that having denied ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live discreetly, righteously and godly, in this present world, looking for the blessed hope, and the appearance of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity and purify to Himself a special people, zealous of good works.
There are various lessons to be derived from these verses.
We must deny all ungodly behavior and worldly lust.
There is no need getting worried about what to eat and what wear during Christmas. People have cheated others for that purpose. Others have sold their bodies for that purpose. What have you done in the name of Christmas? All the worldliness must give way to godliness as we celebrate Christmas.
We must turn to God and obey his commands from now on. Let us live in modesty. We must eat and drink, but it should be the right stuff. We must resolve not to cheat in order to celebrate Christmas. There are some people who say because of the way people have corrupted Christmas, Christians should give up the celebration. I don’t think so; we will then have to give up everything then when the world takes it.
Look for the Blessed Hope
Christ came to give hope. It is that hope that is more important for us as Christians. We must not lose that hope. Things might not be for us as we will have wanted it to be. But there is hope. Christ is hope. If this year you can only afford fish, be happy. There is hope. If you are not able to buy any drink, drink water. The hope we should cling to is that Christ is coming again. That is where we will receive our reward.
Those of us who can, let’s share what we have with those who don’t have. Let’s give hope to the hopeless. There is a glory associated with Christ. That Glory must be our portion.
Let’s resolve to do good works
The good work is one that brings people to Christ. As we commemorate Christ’s birth, we must renew our zeal to work for him so that his kingdom and government will extend further into the hearts of all men.
The Lord be with you. MERRY CHRISTMAS
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