About four decades ago, in my country-home Nigeria, Christmas period is a sure time for eating rice. We have so many local varieties of foods that our parents don’t usually include rice in our menu list; for many claimed not to be satisfied when eating rice. However, for us kids then, it’s a delight when rice is involved. In my childhood days, festive periods like Christmas is a period to eat rice. Kids will move within families and neighbors, eating and drinking juice until mummies will say go home. The repercussion the next day, please don’t ask me.
For traders and artisans, it’s time to make more gains as demands usually shoots-up. Especially, traders in children wear, toys, decorative materials and food items. Artisans are always with urgent jobs toward Christmas. In this twenty-first century; Christmas is a business time for relaxation managers, “joints” operators, tourisms and events managers. Usually a lot of cash do change hands. For business guys, Xmas is surely a busy period for monetary gain.
For some, it’s a period to show gratitude, giving back to the needy and putting smiles on people’s faces. It also includes show-offs and arrogances; all other things notwithstanding.
. To some other people, Christmas is a time to drink alcoholic stuffs, in the name of celebration. Many will therefore ends up in police cell for drunkenness or some other petty crimes.
To others, Christmas is a period of remembrance. According to the scripture, it was the time when God began to make good His promise to reconcile man to Himself. For those who have been redeemed, it should be a period of joy, the beginning of the work of salvation and path to eternity.
In fairness to some, it’s birthdays, or anniversaries. Therefore, Christmas worldwide is a celebration time.
However, in determining what Christmas means, there are two very important things to note, Xmas involves giving and taking for a purpose.
The faith in God is established on His giving. John 3: 16 gave an explanation of this. “For God so love the world that He gave His only begotten son, that …not perish but have everlasting life. God gave to achieve a purpose; to recover what was lost in the Garden of Eden. He did not buy, force or propose, but he gave willingly. By this, the world was reconciled to him, and the true fellowship that God required in the book of Genesis was returned through the “called-outs” ones.
One other thing to note here is that He made a sacrificial giving, His only begotten son. Children are always close to the hearts of parents, set aside the need of some these days that made them to give their children away, though with regrets. I don’t know how many parents that are happy seeing their children serve corporal punishments. When this happens most parents always look for a justification in their hearts, but none is very happy. Imagine how God felt when Jesus was praying in garden of Gethsemane; but He did not change His mind for this is the only way out of the lock-jam, that the world has put itself. He gave sacrificially, not just a messenger, an angel or a spirit, but His only son.
By this, we have Christmas, which means we have the opportunity again to be close to Almighty God, our creator with abundant joy, peace in all spheres and fulfillment of purpose and destiny.
The other thing Christmas involves is “taking”. That latter part of John 3: 16 say that “….whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”. This simply means that much as it is for everybody, it is really meant for those who choose to take it.
God has given us the free will to make choices in everything, with associated consequences. It is for you to take His salvation plan or reject it. Recollect that ‘life without Christ is in crises’. For without Christ, there is no hope of making it beyond this world, which some says it’s a rat race and futile life. King Solomon made the submission that all about this world is vanity.
Therefore, to partake of the description of Isaiah 9:6-7, you must first accept the reason of Christmas and its implications.
Kindly notice:
Jesus said in luke4:18-19 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord”. This is the real reason of Christmas.
Thank God that Christmas has effects on you. Jesus said in Jn. 14: 12 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father”.
So, God gave His son, Jesus gave His life and Holy Spirit empower you, what are you giving for God and man in celebration of Christmas, once and for ever like He did?
I believe Christmas should be a ‘given and taking’ period. If Jesus had come to set the captive free and you are to do a greater work than Him, then how many people will you cause to smile this Christmas? The unbelievers outside Christendom needs you to help them get life, the believers needs you to share their burdens, the heavens want to rejoice for the new converts and the children want to see the Father Christmas in you. Plan and pray about it. “Give”.
Do you really have the joy of Christmas? If Christmas brings joy, salvation, healing, hope, deliverance, and so on, when are you going to be part of it and take your own? Let it be now. You can only set yourself free when you choose to. No other form of Christmas will come again. “Take”.
Share your meaning of Xmas with someone today and make sure you receive your own joy.
Looking forward for a wonderful Christmas time with you, stay blessed.
