Afkary

From Raffles City to Vivo City, from Bugis to Taka, from Orchard to Bishan; in fact all over Singapore and the world the atmosphere of the Christmas season is in the air. The colours, the lights, the decorations, the carols and the crowds come together to provide a period of celebration, fun, feasting, fellowship and gatherings. Even in Japan where I was last week, where Christmas is not a holiday and the majority are non-Christians, there were signs of Christmas everywhere; in restaurants, hotels and public parks. In Hokkaido and much of the northern hemisphere it?s going to be a wintry and white Christmas. By contrast in the South, Christmas is going to be warm.

However beyond all the external and physical celebration of Christmas what is the meaning of this event? The simple answer is; it?s the celebration of the birth of Jesus. It?s Jesus? birthday party. In a birthday party it would be most unusual to forget the birthday person or to come to the party without a gift. This is exactly what the world is doing to Jesus. We as believers are also sometimes guilty! We are so busy with everyone and ourselves that we forget to honour the one whose birthday we celebrate. We are so caught up and immersed in the celebration that the meaning of Christmas eludes us. Christmas is God becoming man to live with human limitations. The God Almighty and creator of the entire universe became a human being to live a sinless life and thus save us from our sins. I used to think that this idea is foolishness to the (intellectual) thinking person; how can God constrained Himself to live like a human being. But with God ALL things are possible. Christmas is ?God with us?. Christmas is about love! Love with us.

Christmas season always brings about feeling of nostalgia in me as I have celebrated quite a number overseas with friends that are still living there. Giving of gifts to love ones is an integral part of the celebration. What is your gift to Jesus this Christmas? Put in another way how do you show your love to Jesus on His birthday? Are there some things your treasure that you need to give to Him who has given you His life and everything you own? In this season of joy and time of cheer, would you show love; to Jesus and to those around you, close ones and not so close ones?

Quote ?Can you spare a minute to let ME tell you how much I love you? Can you stop to thank Me for My love, and to reflect on how you can spread more love throughout the world?? unquote.

If you are not a Christian, Jesus is God?s gift for you. He died for your sins on the cross of Calvary. Would you accept His gift to save you from your sins?