(December 08, 2023) Angeline Selvakumari shares good points…

Ever since I was a child, Christmas has always held a special place in my heart. It brings indescribable joy. When I was young, we didn’t have enough money to buy new clothes or gifts, or to decorate the house with fancy colored paper or lights. We lived in a small one-bedroom house with limited food, but… my parents always found ways to make our childhood beautiful and meaningful.

My brother and I are forever grateful for their efforts. It was an amazing time! Visiting grandparents, meeting cousins, going to church early in the morning with sleepy eyes, eagerly waiting to eat a delicious lunch with the whole family gathered around, playing games, and even the occasional sibling squabble – all these things made those days truly beautiful.

Even now, every year, the scent of candles, aroma of cookies, twinkling decorative lights, and the chilly wind, along with heartwarming carols, bring back great memories.

However… I am also very aware that for some Christmas can be a different experience. Maybe a stressful time that brings back memories of loved ones who are no longer with us. Some may be battling health issues or financial constraints. Some people may find the hustle and bustle of Christmas overwhelming, leading to feelings of loneliness, sadness, or depression. It’s even said that suicide rates are higher during this season.

Additionally, there is an ongoing debate about Christmas being celebrated on December 25 as we don’t know the actual date of Jesus’ birth.

• For me, the specific date is not as important as the unshakable truth that Jesus was born into this world. The Son of God became the son of man, and that is what truly matters.
• Therefore, I take this opportunity to declare that greatest gift I have ever received is the birth of Jesus. Regardless of my life’s circumstances, I love celebrating this event with my family and friends.
• I also strive to include those who may not have families or who are going through difficult times. It’s a time to show love, care, and share what I have with others.

The giving of gifts is such an important Christmas tradition in many countries that sometimes people actually forget to celebrate the greatest gift already given to humankind – the birth of Jesus! And this incredible gift presents at least five important aspects about God –

1. Promise!
Christmas reminds us that God is a promise keeper. What He says, He will do. He is not a man to lie or change His mind. It might even take time – sometimes even a few generations – but His promise always stands!

Matthew 24:35 declares, ‘Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.’However, we often give up easily after a few weeks, months, or years. One thing we need to remember is that when God says something, He will do it. God promised a Messiah to the Jewish people, and He sent one!

• Around 44 Old Testament promises were fulfilled with the birth of Jesus. For example…
• Genesis 3:15 prophesied the Messiah being born of a woman: Fulfilled in Matthew 1:20.
• His place of birth (Micah 5:2) is another fulfilled promise (Matthew 2:1).
• Many more promises that were fulfilled, but the important thing to understand is that God’s people had to wait for years to see the fulfillment of these promises.
• If God has promised you something, keep on praying in faith. Don’t give up! You may not see the rain or wind, but your trenches will be filled with water.

When Jesus says ‘Yes,’ nobody can say ‘No’! He is a promise keeper! Hold on to your faith, even when there is nothing to hold on to. What God has said, He will bring to pass.

Christmas is a time to remember that even when we don’t see it yet, God is still working on our behalf! All things will be made beautiful in His time. Wait for His time… it is perfect!

2. Peace!
God is the peace that He grants. His name is the Prince of Peace! Peace is the most important aspect of our lives, yet it may not be recognised or received. Without peace, nothing makes sense. We can have a huge house, expensive car, high-paying job, a trophy from a spouse, a wealthy husband, talented children, and yet if we don’t have peace, there is no use in all that we may possess.

Jesus says, ‘Come to me, all who are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28) and ‘The peace I give you, the world cannot give’ (John 14:27). The peace that Jesus gives is sufficient for all situations, whether one has a 10-digit bank balance or a single-digit one, whether you have a family or you are all alone, whether you are healthy or spending your fortune on doctors and medicines, whether you are male or female, young or old; it does not matter!

• The peace that God gives is beyond our understanding, beyond our imagination.
• It is the peace Daniel experienced in the midst of roaring lions.
• As did his Hebrew brothers experienced in the middle of the blazing fire.
• What Jesus gives has no limit. Even in the midst of a storm, you can experience His peace!
• Without God’s knowledge, nothing will touch us. That is the confidence we should have.

Maybe you are going through a dry season in your life, maybe you are experiencing a tornado-like situation right now, but let me tell you, I have been there not once, not twice, but many, many times, and have seen that Jesus is always the same yesterday, today, and forever. He has always filled me with His peace. Always remember that He is in control of every situation... He will never let us down.

Today, ask God to give you peace, regardless of your situation, the circumstances you are facing, the pit you are sitting in, or the Goliath you are facing. Jesus will give you peace because He is the prince of peace.

Did you know that the first Christmas was not actually a great and peaceful celebration? On the contrary, some people were terrified on hearing about the birth of Jesus. They were scared and disturbed. However, when the frightened yet faithful ones heard and believed the good news, they began to rejoice. When the angel appeared to the shepherds, he said, ‘Do not be afraid. … I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people’ (Luke 2:10NLT). They were simple people with simple faith.

There is yet another important thing that disrupts our peace: hatred and unforgiveness. Let us forgive and move forward. Only then will we find peace. If we hold unforgiveness in our hearts, peace eludes us. Yes, people may have wronged us, caused deep scars, inflicted pain, or stabbed us in the back. Let God deal with it.

Yet to forgive someone in your life? Now is the time. Send a text or make a phone call to reconcile. May God grant you the peace to do so.

3. Presence!
Wow! What an amazing gift!

His name is Emmanuel, meaning ‘God is with us.’ He has promised never to leave us nor forsake us. In His presence, there is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11). King David had everything in life—money, fame, wealth, power, victory, and yet there was one thing he longed for above all he had — to be in the presence of the Lord, more than in his palace.

When David sinned, he was not worried about his reputation; he was more concerned about the absence of the Holy Spirit. He said, ‘Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me’ (Psalm 51:11).

When Jesus went home, He said, ‘I will send you a Comforter. He will guide you. He will be with you all the time’ (John 14:16). Let us ask ourselves today, do we have the gift of God’s presence in our lives, our families, our homes, and in our relationship as husband and wife? Do we give preference to the presence of God or to the presents of this world? This is a question to ask ourselves this Christmas season.

4. Power!
Another supernatural gift of our prince is His awesome and powerful in our lives. Genesis 3:15 is a prophecy against Satan ‘… I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head…

Satan, in an attempt to thwart God’s divine plan, sought to destroy the heavenly purpose by having babies killed around the time of Jesus’ birth (Matthew 2:16-18). Nevertheless, his plan was futile, too late (verses 13-15). God’s plan cannot be destroyed; no one can destroy the plan that God has for you and me.

The ultimate authority lies with our Lord. God directs our footsteps and sets limits for the waves of the sea, commanding them not to advance further. God declares, ‘My purpose will stand!’ (Isaiah 46:10). Our God is mighty and awesome in power!

He desires for us to be winners and overcome our circumstances, failures, defeats, sins, curses, and above all, Satan. Do not give up! Christmas serves as a reminder that we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37).

What are you waiting for?

5. Pardon!
When God created the world, He saw that it was good, beautiful, and perfect. However, with the entrance of sin through disobedience, everything changed.

People have been struggling to overcome sin and its consequences ever since. The Bible states that … the wages of sin is death… (Romans 6:23). The consequences of our sinful actions are not limited to physical death but also spiritual death.

• Sin separates us from God, creating a great chasm.
• Jesus’ birth marked the end of this separation.
• His major purpose in coming into the world was to die for our sins, taking our place of punishment.
• By dying on the cross, Jesus granted us the special gift of ‘Grace.’
• Christmas is a time to remember the pure, selfless love of God, which comes to us in the form of grace.

Additionally, Jesus is continually interceding for us (Romans 8:34). It’s important to remember that there is no sin either too great or too small that grace cannot cover!

Dear friends, the pressures of this world, demands of our daily lives, and the challenges we face sometimes drive us away from God. Is this you? If so,  now the time to come back to Him.

Jesus loves us and is willing to forgive us, desiring that we have a personal relationship with Him.

I pray that this Christmas may be a meaningful one for you. May you enjoy the various gifts of the prince of peace. We don’t have to be afraid. He will not only make us conquerors but more than conquerors. He is waiting to embrace you in His arms and accept you just the way you are.

Now I do wish you all, dear readers, a very happy, blessed, joyful, and meaningful Christmas! But… I must add this – if you accept His gifts, you can experience the true meaning of Christmas! 

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Pastor Angeline Selvakumari is Chief Editor Echo of His Call, India’s Spiritual Newspaper, and Dr S Sam Selva Raj’s daughter. In furthering Echo of His Call ministries, established 1969, Dr Sam daily broadcasts 5-minute messages in Hindi, Tamil and English on YouTube, trusting the Lord to provide for the costs. Link: sam@echoofhiscall.org  
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