Christmas Teaches Me...

We are in a Christmas mood and spirit. The first Christmas has lots to teach us. Here are a few truths Christmas teaches me to adhere to:

Belief, Not Unbelief

When the angel said to Zechariah at his old age that he and his wife Elizabeth would give birth to a miracle baby, all that showed up on the old man were waves of unbelief.  His unbelief was at its peak when he asked the angel for a sign. Yes, a sign was given. He became dumb until the birth of John, the miracle baby!

Now living in the same time and space, was a village girl named Mary, a relative of Elizabeth. She too was told by an angel that she would give birth to a miracle baby even while she was a virgin. But when she heard an encouraging promise from the angel that nothing is impossible with God, she surrendered to the Lord who had sent the angel saying, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said” (Luke 1:38). Is that not a sign of belief we see in Mary, the mother of Jesus?

Now, faith is to believe. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see”. Zechariah and Mary believed in something impossible. Their believing patterns were different. Yet they enjoyed seeing miracles happen. Hebrews 11 gives a list of such heroes and heroines of faith who received in this world what they could not believe. But the latter part of the chapter also gives a list of unnamed heroes and heroines, who did not receive a miracle while they were living on this earth. They were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised (Hebrews 11:35-38)

True believers of God of the Bible do not hope in their God, for their earthly living alone (1 Corinthians 15:19). They live in this world, in faith, looking forward to an eternal life of heavenly bliss with God after their earthly lives are over.

Love, Not Fear

When the angels brought good news, all of them feared: Zechariah, Mary and the shepherds. So the angels had to say to all of these people: “Fear Not’” (Luke 1:12-13, 29-30, 2:9-10).

Can fear over rule our life, ever? No. God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power (2 Timothy 1:7). There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us (1John 4:18-19).  "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). One needed fear in all of us should be a fear of punishment and judgment for our wrong doings. Such a fear can only motivate us to repent to this loving God (Proverbs 8:13). For all other fears pertaining to this world, God says: "Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)

Humility, Not Pride

Herod in the Christmas narrative, behaved arrogant and proud. He did not want a King to be born for the Jews. But in his attempt he only failed. The biblical truth that the divine favor is upon the humble is proved in the way, the angel salutes Mary. The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." (Luke 1:28) Mary too shares this truth through her song: “God has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.” (Luke 1:52)

Paul defines humble persons as those who consider others better than themselves and those who do not look into their own interests, but will look into the interests of others. Paul then cites Jesus who came down from heaven in a humble manner, relinquishing his own interest as a supreme example of humility in Philippians 2: 1-11. That is the greatest truth of the Christmas narrative.

As a believer, born again as a child of God, I commit myself to adhere to these great truths of the Christmas story as I gear up to celebrate one another Christmas this year. I wish that the teachings of the Bible become more personal to all of us during this Christmas season.

A Merry Christmas to You!