FAITH CAPSULE: God has given, and all should be giving themself for His gift.
Matthew 2
Among the ways of seeking God is celebrating God for who He is a good and caring God.
A God that is jealous will undoubtedly appreciate being celebrated by His creation.
With understanding, it is safe to say celebrating the birth of Jesus is testifying to the goodness of God, making Him known.
Making Him know with testimony is seeking Him.
The word of God demands, “But seeks first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”(Matthew 6:33)
It is always worth it to make seeking God a fruitful experience not a display of glamorous celebration.
A glamorous celebration can be just an attraction that all displays in the name of celebrating God.
In your celebration, handing gifts to families and friends is not evidence of a true reflection of love before God.
Celebrate God to demonstrate as one existing for God.
Live love as one that celebrates the love of God in Jesus.
Jesus came to offer the love of God.
1 John 4:9 buttresses, “In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.”
Jesus is the love of God for all.
1 John 5:1 states, “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.”
Give Jesus a gift by accepting His love and abiding in Him.
What is it that you have to offer Jesus as you celebrate Him?
At the time of His birth, he got gifts.
The Bible records, “And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” (Matthew 2:11)
The wise men visited the birthplace of Jesus with gifts for His coming as the savior of man.
As an acclaimed believer, a supposedly wise one, what do you have to offer Him on His birthday?
Besides glamorous celebrations, handing out gifts and receiving gifts, and singing songs not rooted in the heart or with a lack of understanding, what do you have to offer as a gift for the birthday celebration of our Lord Jesus Christ?
Is your celebration meaningful?
Does it truly reflect your confession, living life for God?
Celebrating one that is not pleased with one could be an incomplete or unacceptable celebration.
Do you have faith?
It is faith that pleases God (Hebrews 11:6) but nothing else. Christianity or Christmas celebration is not just about adornment but knowing God as the Lord and savior.
Disallow adornment from occupying you from celebrating the reality of Christ Jesus.
Prayer for today: Ask God to deliver you from religion into the reality of Jesus.