FAITH CAPSULE: What is it that you have to offer Jesus as you celebrate Him?
Matthew 2
Among the ways of seeking God is celebrating God for who He is. 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 making Him known publicly. Making Him know publicly 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 to make our seeking God a fruitful experience and not just a display of glamorous celebration. Glamorous celebration can be just attraction we display in the name of celebrating God. In your celebration, gifts are being handed out to families and friends. Is your giving a true reflection of love for others or only to give back in return because a family or friend extended a gift to you? Do you truly love as demonstrated by the One you are celebrating? The One you are celebrating came to offer love to all man. 1John 4:9 buttressed, “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 us. 1 John 5:1 also stated, “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 Him gift by accepting the love and abide in Him.
What is it that you have to offer Jesus as you celebrate Him? At the time of His birth gifts were offered to Him. The bible recorded, “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 birth place of Jesus with gifts for His coming as the savior of man. As an acclaimed believer, what is it that you have to offer Him at the celebration of His birthday? Besides glamorous celebration, handling out gifts and receiving gifts, singing of carols that have no meaning inside of you, what do you have to offer as a gift for the birth day celebration of our Lord Jesus Christ? Is your celebration meaningful? Does it truly reflect your confession? Celebrating one that is not pleased with one could possibly 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 it is about Jesus reality. Disallow adornment from occupying you from the reality of Christ Jesus.
Prayer for today: Ask God to deliver you from religion into Jesus reality.