Believe: One decision for a meaningful Christmas with your family

Português
Reading time: 6 min

What does Christmas mean for you?

“Time to be with the family,” Joaquim answered, trying to understand who we were and why we asked. We were in a department store a few weeks ago and asked this question to a young couple with their 2 little children. The answer was immediate, as they stopped seeing the Christmas ornaments and looked at us a little scared.

After we met quickly, we told them about the importance of the birth of Jesus, celebrated by many around the world at Christmas time. And we agreed with them. Christmas is a time of fellowship with people who are very important to us, of valuing relationships, of being together and thanking God for our family.

In spite of all commercial motivation and other distractions that mingle with this beautiful date, we see shining lights everywhere and a glorious message of peace and favor of God upon mankind.

Light shines in the darkness

The Bible says that the light shines in the darkness and the darkness does not defeat it (John 1:5). A good understanding here according to the context is that the darkness did not understand it. There are some issues we understand, others we do not. Right? However, the fact that we do not understand does not mean that we should not accept. We can not understand missing someone, the soft breeze on that hot day, a loving embrace in the moment of hopelessness, or the light dispelling darkness. The fact is that the light shone in the darkness. The author is referring to the birth of Jesus, the God of the Universe who came into the world in the form of man, flesh and blood as we are, to bring his love to all.

Although there are many aspects of Jesus’ life that we can not understand,  we can experience it. Jesus came to give us life in abundance; the proposal is reasonable at best, consistent and true. You will find people living in darkness, lost in their human endeavors, not accepting the reality that Jesus is the Savior of the world. But you have never met nor will you find a person who, accepting the reality of Jesus in his life, has regretted that decision. There are millions of people in the world who have personally met Jesus and value this relationship because they know it is only beneficial.

The presence of Jesus in our family made and makes all the difference. Total difference every day! Thank God. When a person accepts an encounter with Jesus, his light will shine in his heart and he will never be the same again. There are really issues in this possible relationship that we can not understand, but we can experiment. This is possible through faith, which is the proof of things not seen. God gave each person a measure of faith. There is no man who does not have this capacity to believe. And in all of creation, God gave faith only to the mankind, precisely because it is through faith  that a personal relationship is made possible.

Believe and Confess

That means that whatever you need to meet Jesus you already have right now: the faith that God has placed in your heart, and the power of decision to confess Jesus in your life.

Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.

Mathew 10:32

Immanuel

Choices have consequences. So we want to remind you that the best choice you can make this Christmas is to accept believing in Jesus, simply saying “yes” to him. Let go of your own efforts to overcome personal, family difficulties, and crises of the past that creep into your present. Accept experience even without understanding faith. Refuse all that is darkness in your life and come to the light of Jesus. Simply believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus is welcome in your life!

On the first Christmas, when Jesus was conceived, God was personally coming into the world to bring peace and to reconcile with him all things, especially mankind. One of the many prophecies fulfilled in the life of Jesus was to be called Immanuel, which means “God with us”. Communion between man and God is a very important matter. Therefore, Jesus came to pay the necessary price and give eternal salvation to all those who believe in him.

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Isaiah 7:14

God’s Family

The Bible says we can be God’s family. Not all people are, just as not all people will spend time to be with their family this Christmas. Just as Joaquim will enjoy Christmas with his family, we are very excited to have our family together these days. And you too can make a difference and believe that there is a more excellent meaning for that date. You can decide for a life of greater value. You can believe and prove that with Jesus your life will never be frustrated.

So, considering your most noble expectations for this Christmas, what gift will you give to the one who has everything? Relationship is a great suggestion. Open your heart and receive the gift of salvation for free by faith in Jesus.

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

Gospel of John 1:9,12