Christmas: What is Your Gift?

In December all the ways are decorated with beautiful and sparkling lights. In December people are happier because December means holiday season, a season to be jolly with all the merry. Christmas carol are heard in every corner, in the stores, television, radio, and everywhere.  In this season also, people do gift exchange, for children, they excited to find the gifts under the christmas tree.

But are that Christmas all about? 

I heard it many times, since child I knew that Christ the Lord was born and because He came to the world with the mission, I should delight for it. Because Church has Christmas service, I come to the church. For many years I celebrate it that way.  But, I want more than that. What is Christmas all about? I attended Christmas celebration service, I took bible reading plan that talk about Christmas, and the heart of Christmas. I am thankful God is faithful to what He says. He says whatever I ask in the name of Jesus, I will receive it so my joy will be full (John 16:24). I asked Him to make this Christmas become more meaningful for me, not because of the celebration, but because of Himself revealed in my heart. As I prepare myself for this Christmas, everything I read, everything I heard talk about about these four things. 

Hope

“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14)

The prophecy (the word) was made true by the born of Jesus. God fulfilled what He has promised through Jesus, He is the answer for our hope.

“ For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6).

Peace

Jesus is said The Prince of Peace.  He reconciles our relationship with God so we have assurance that we are forgiven from our sin. We are forgiven so we may come to the Father, and we are redeemed so that we are transferred from death to life. Because of Jesus, we have eternal life.

Joy

Joy is a feeling of great pleasure and happiness. The angel said that he brought great joy for all the people. That joy is Jesus. What a pleasure that the Son of God come to the world so that we may call our Lord, Abba Father, The Great Father ever, that we may have Jesus as a best friend who understand everything about us, and strengthen us, and that the Holy Spirit, lives in our heart, never abandons us through days and nights, in tears and joys.

“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10)

Love

“for God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). 

Christmas is meaningless if there is no love. Love is the essential one that because of love, Christ was born. Because of love, we are forgiven. Because of love, we have eternal life. It is far away from our ability. We can not afford it, and we are not deserve for it. Only by God’s love and by His grace.

Christmas is all about love, peace, joy, and hope. Those are our priceless gift. Because of Jesus, we have hope in our despairing situation and condition, how awful our life trapped in sin, how hopeless we are in our inability. He brings hope, He forgives, and He helps us. We should have no more doubt about everything, for Jesus come to bring us peace. He will give us a peaceful mind in Him, a peace that guards and abides our heart, whatever happens. Even in the trouble, we have assurance that God always at work to draw us closer to Him, that will drive is to the true joy. Jesus is our true and greatest joy. Our soul cannot be satisfied by everything in this world. Only Jesus who can satisfy our longing soul. And the last but not least, God is love. Everything He does is because of love. We cannot say that we know God if we do not love. God loves his people, and so have we. We are no longer live in cynicsm and ignorance. The born of Jesus Christ is a news about God’s love.