Christmas Joy
Christmas is a time to be lonely, to be depressed, to move into a state of despair – a time when other people’s happiness crowds into you to crush you. Christmas is a time for having rows with members of the family. Christmas is a time for eating and drinking too much. Is there anything good to say about Christmas? So what are your expectations of Christmas?
The truth is that Christmas is a time for celebration – a time to celebrate God’s gift of rescue. For in Christ, we have someone who cares so passionately for us that he suffered in our place for our sins. In our lives we are burdened by the things we have done and the things we have not done and by the things that have happened to us. Where there is suffering, then Christ is there sharing in the suffering. However hopeless things might seem we can be confident that Christ is there with us. In celebrating the birth of Christ, we celebrate the birth of hope. Joy is found deep inside and is a gift we can all receive. We need to focus on what really gives us joy – for joy does not come from what we have but from how we use what we have. It is in giving that we receive and it is in giving that we show our love.
This Christmas let us share the joy that we have received through the birth of Christ. Let us remember those who do not yet know Christ and pray that they may come to know that Christ was born for them and is God’s great gift of salvation for them.
David Bradshaw
December 2006