BELIEVE: Christmas Defined!
“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 Belief in Jesus brings joy, hope, peace and love amidst life’s trials. I believe. Do you?
All this month we’ve been focusing on the words of Christmas. Words like joy, hope, peace, love and believe. Words that we often see on Christmas decorations and ornaments. But the true depth of their meaning can easily become lost – not intentionally, but it happens nonetheless – especially during the hectic pace of the holidays. But the more I ponder these words, the more I’ve come to realize that the depth of their meaning for our walk of faith becomes much more meaningful as these words are enhanced and enlightened by life’s trials. Words reminding us that ‘God is WITH us’ through it all. I believe. Do you?
The last few blogs and e-devotions this month have focused on the words joy, hope, peace and love. Today, we focus on the word believe. A word which honestly, when we ponder it, supports and sustains all the other words. Believe! It’s a word in lyrics of songs to inspire. Sports teams use it for focus. Individuals use it for motivation. God Himself uses the term believe to help us overcome life’s trials. 1 John 5:5 asks, “Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” I believe. Do you? Jesus Himself adds this in John 16:33b “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” I believe. Do you? Christmas defined in a word: believe! Believe, a firm opinion, conviction or truth held to and lived by. But believing isn’t always easy is it? Nope! Because we all have life moments when belief and unbelief collide. It’s in these life moments that I find myself crying out in prayer the words of a dad in Mark 9:24, “Jesus, I do believe. Help me overcome my unbelief!” Been there as well? Yep! As pastor and author Steven Furtick states, “Dare to believe God for the impossible!” I believe. Do you? See, belief – when acted upon and lived out; brings joy in life’s joyless moments, hope in life’s hopeless moments, peace in life’s peace-less moments and love in life’s unloveable moments. That’s the message of Christmas wrapped in swaddling clothes and laying in a manger. I believe. Do you? God is WITH us through it all. Believing in Him, we overcome!
I believe. Do you? Merry Christmas friends,
Pastor Doug
See you at our Christmas Eve ‘Candlelight’ services on Tuesday, December 24 at 4 and 5:30p.m. We will be live streaming both of these services in their entirety. May God bless us – everyone!
