clcgh.org Building The Capacity Of Christian Leaders, Equipping The Saints For The Work Of Ministry, Redirecting Straying Christians To The Sound Knowledge Of Christ
By James Quansah
CHRISTMAS is a festival celebrated by a large number of Christian denominations cross the world to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. Many activities mark the celebration: gifts are exchanged, Christmas trees are acquired for decorations, new dresses are bought, parties are organized, best wishes are exchanged, people travel long distances to reunite with their families, sumptuous meals eaten and above all various church programmes are organized.
All these expensive activities are carried out obviously to honour the birth of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world. But there are countless celebrants who may not have genuinely known or encountered the person at the centre of the whole celebration.
Celebrating Christmas without encountering Christ Jesus is wasting money and other resources without knowing. Celebrating Christmas without renewing your mind and deepening your love relationship with Christ as a Christian is counterfeiting your Christianity.
Do you know why most of us Christians, today, behave like unbelievers? We neither known Jesus Christ nor encountered Him. Hundreds of us have just heard that Mary’s Son is called Jesus Christ, but we have not got into close contact with Him.
Jesus Christ is knowable because He lives. He is in every genuine believer’s heart, making them Christians. One common way to encounter Him is to hear the gospel of salvation with open heart, sincerely believe in Him, repent of your sins and confess Him as your Lord and Saviour. By this, His Spirit, the Holy Spirit, will come and dwell in you.
And when He comes to dwell in you, you will experience joy flowing like a river in your heart. You will begin to develop hatred for sin, but love righteousness. Again, you will love to read the Bible or hear His Word taught to you. You will also like to talk with God through regular prayers.
Jesus Christ is the living Word, and He is God. As you celebrate Christmas this year, may your belief or unbelief and doubt draw you closer to Him. May His abiding presence in your heart change you into the person God created you to be and live according to His purpose for your life. Amen.
