Hi how are you all today? I am well and counting down to the Christmas break. I really love this time of the year especially when I think of the meaning of why we celebrate and remember Christmas.
Celebration in the Oxford Dictionary means social gathering or enjoyable activity held to celebrate something. In the world we live in, we do really well at the first part of that meaning. Most of us have some sort of gathering with family and/ or friends over the Christmas season
What we forget is the reason we are celebrating. There would be no Christmas tradition without the birth of Jesus. John 3: 16 is a favourite of mine and one of the first verses most of us memorise. It basically says: for God so loved He gave. Gave what? The Word that created the earth took on a body of flesh and was born as a baby into this sin filled earth.
Don’t you just love Gods plan? If Jesus had of come as a boy or even as a fully grown man, He likely would have said to God – I can’t do this, get me out of here. The world would have been too alien for Him.
But because He was born a baby, grew up and became an adult man, the shock between heaven and earth probably wouldn’t have been so significant. As Jesus grew up, He learnt to love others and love God most of all.
So why did I say Christmas was the giving season? Isn’t it about me receiving presents? Receiving is only a small part unless you are a child. As an adult, Christmas is giving. We make food, buy presents for our family, give our time volunteering for Christmas parties and events. Jesus said it is more blessed to give than to receive. Why? Because in giving, we show the world and those around us the nature of God
God is a giving God and He loves to bless us in all areas of life. If we are made in the image of Him, which we are, then we need to be a blessing to those around us. As we bless and give to others, God will give back to us – it’s His nature.
So this Christmas remember that in giving, you are acting like God and showing the world the nature and love of God.
Have a great week and keep living the life God intended for you.
Bless you
Karen
Living the life God intended 