By Miriam from Nigeria
I have been pondering how to craft this blog post. This is because I do not want to sound repetitive since the last Christmas blog post I wrote. However, I am still digesting John 3:16…how much God loves us to send His one and only Son to come into this world just so we can spend eternity with Him. What a sacrifice—what manner of love! Nothing beats that.
But, I have a question for you. How has this year’s Christmas planning been? Are you already feeling the festive air? Have you already traveled to be with family or has your family traveled to be with you? Being together with family and loved ones in this very special season is usually a wholesome experience.
I think we all know that amidst the festivity and activities that this season brings, Christmas is about the best gift that God has given to us, the gift of His Son Jesus Christ. He did not just give us Jesus Christ for giving’s sake, but He gave us life everlasting. The opportunity to win back what the devil has stolen from us.
But what about the gift that we are to give back to God? Think about it…God gave us a gift that He expects us to receive and use. Using the gift He gave us is our way of giving Him a gift in return. Without the act of returning a gift back to God, this gift of eternal life will amount to nothing.
What do I mean? Well…for you and I to enjoy this gift that God so abundantly and graciously gave to us, we have to first believe that there’s such a gift, then accept that there is such a gift and then, act like we have the gift. That is how it works.
Isaiah 9:6 says: For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
We all know that this prophecy came to pass—Jesus was born into this world. But, it didn’t stop there. God also gave Him to us, to have dominion over the world—over us, so we can live life as God originally intended. However, all this will mean nothing if we do not believe it, accept it, and act like it.
As we read in Isaiah 9:6, one of the anthems for every Christmas celebration, I encourage us all to take a moment and digest what it is saying, what it means and how it applies to us as individuals. Have we accepted that Jesus is Lord over all? Are we allowing Him to be in charge of our lives? Is He counseling us in every aspect of our lives? Is He the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father and The Prince of Peace of our world? Of your world?
Whether you and I believe, accept, act like it or not, it doesn’t change who Jesus is and what He is doing in the lives of the people who have believed and accepted Him, and are living in ways to reflect that. What it will just mean is that we will miss out on the gift of life everlasting.
So, why not allow the Holy Spirit to guide your heart in this Christmas season?
Let Him help you understand the full essence of Isaiah 9:6, then you can allow this special gift that is the best gift of all to resonate in you. What better gift can you share than the gift of eternal life?
Do not keep this to yourself. Take it to the people in your world because this gift is meant to be given away. Let’s spread this gift that truly makes Christmas.
