“ALL THE ENDS OF THE EARTH SHALL SEE THE SALVATION OF THE LORD” (Isa 52:10)
⏰Christmas Day (25 December 2018)
📕Isa 52:7-10; Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6 (R.v.3cd); Heb 1:1-6; John 1:1-18
The sound of Christmas is in the air! There is great rejoicing all over the world! Celebrations abound everywhere! It is indeed worth celebrating. But what are we celebrating? Is it not possible that many of us do not even know?
We are celebrating because “Long time ago in Bethlehem, So the Holy Bible says, Mary’s Boy child Jesus Christ, was born on Christmas Day. Hark now hear the angels sing, a new king born today, And man will live for evermore because of Christmas Day!”
We are celebrating the birth of a new child, not just any child, a special child. This is how the prophet Isaiah described that child, The government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isa 9:6).
In the former times, the people conceived of God in abstract forms through the words of the prophets and the image they had of God scared them. Now, he no longer wants to remain abstract to the people, so he became flesh and dwelt among us (cf. John 1:14).
His presence on earth brings joy to all (Luke 2:10) because great peace follows the announcement of his birth (Luke 2:14) and his coming would mean good news to the poor, healing for the brokenhearted, deliverance to the captives, sight to the blind, liberty to the prisoners and a year of favour to all (cf. Luke 4:18-19).
Have you seen the type of child that we are celebrating?
👉Can you see the type of things he is associated with? Are you familiar with such things in your own celebration?
👉Have you been giving wonderful counsel to people around you?
👉Are you giving people the reason to believe in the protective and fatherly care of God?
👉Are you a channel for peace?
If people do not experience joy after encountering us, then our celebration can be said to be faulty. He comes with glory and so it is important for people to glorify God after encountering us.
May the Lord grant you the grace to really celebrate him with joy as we ought to celebrate him. Amen.
Merry, Merry Christmas! Peace be with you.
