Dec 25th, 2020: Christmas Blessing - Embrace JOY, PEACE, LOVE and BELIEF

 


I like to suggest four essential life experiences that we need to consider while celebrating Christmas: JOY, PEACE, LOVE, and BELIEF. Before I go any further, please also accept them as my greetings and wishes to you and your loved ones this Christmas.


JOY:

Romans 12: 12 

"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer."


We cannot have hope without joy, and we cannot experience joy without hope. This verse is significant to us as we try to fight the hopelessness of this pandemic. 


Patience provides the stillness of the heart in tribulation. We cannot see God without that stillness. 


Prayer tells us that our relationship with God is a living one. It is our lifeline when nothing else seems to make sense in life.


PEACE:

Philippians 4: 7 

"And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."


When we have peace with God, we no longer need to rely on our human understanding in dealing with life. We can guard our hearts and our minds against hatred, jealousy, falsehood, fear, manipulation, and more.


LOVE:

1 Corinthians 16:14

" Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."


There is an aspect of suffering from one another in love. We won't be able to fight against social injustice when we are not willing to tell ourselves that we might need to live with less so that others might have shelter and daily food. Screaming for injustice is nice but not essential. Dying for it by denying our privileges might be more meaningful.


BELIEVE:

Hebrews 11:1

"Now, faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."


Christmas is the time for us to examine our confidence in our hope and assurance in what has not been a revelation to us. Both require faith. We know the danger of having our faith in our government and our politicians. Maybe it is time for us to walk away from the assurance of what we can see and allow ourselves to explore the great mystery that still remains with God.


May God Bless You and Your Family.

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