Listed below are articles abstracted from past issues of PELITA
The birth of Christ is the center of the celebration of Christmas, a time when Christ entered the world with great jubilation. Heaven rejoiced at his birth and the angel announced to the shepherds “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you he is Christ the Lord”. Luke 2:10-14.
Celebrations bring joy to our life. Neh 8:10 says “The joy of the Lord is our strength”. Without a joyful spirit we cannot truly celebrate Christmas.
Through the years many customs and traditions came along with the celebration of Christmas like Santa Claus, gifts, Christmas tree, lights, and so on. Supermarkets are decorated with Christmas lights for commercial purposes. When people see this they say Christmas has come. These may bring joy to some people but the true joy of Christmas is only in Jesus Christ.
The Birth of Christ is the powerful revelation of the great love of God towards us. We should have been destroyed in our sins but God sent his Son Jesus Christ to be born as the Savior of the world. Jesus Christ was conceived of the Holy Spirit born of Virgin Mary. He healed the broken hearted and set the captives free from the power of Satan. He taught his commandements to people. He broke the curse of sin by his death on the cross and destroyed death through His resurrection. All those who believe in Jesus Christ and abide in Him will be saved and will receive eternal life and they are children of God (John 3:16, John 1:12)
As children of God, when we remember the great love of God towards us and celebrate the birth of Christ, our hearts will over flow with the joy of the Lord and we will worship Him with a grateful heart and a joyful spirit. With joy we will share the good news of His great salvation to people who are not saved and remember the poor and the needy and share a portion of our food with them as it is said in Nehemiah 8:10
“May the joy of the Lord remain with us always. The joy of the Lord is our strength”.
By Rev. Joy Pandian