Man will live for evermore..

Its Christmas!!! Christmas, the mere mention of the word brings into mind so many things- Santa Claus, Carols, Christmas Tree, the Crib, decorations, celebrations and not to forget the Christmas Cake and all the other lovely delicious dishes. Christmas surely is a day everyone eagerly waits for.

Christmas is a time of celebrations, a time to buy the best gift you want, a time to ask for something you have been waiting for, a time to take a break from your job or your studies and head home, a time to get together with family and friends, a time to decorate the house, a time to make a beautiful Crib and the best looking Christmas tree, a time of lights and stars, a time to visit Churches and see the decorations, a time to go around and enjoy!!

But Christmas is not just that. It’s much more than that. It’s a day that reminds us of the first Christmas a little more than 2000 years ago – a day people had been waiting for years, a day prophets had prophesied about centuries ago, a day which divided the world history into two (AD and BC), a day which touched and changed lives of many, a day when angels came down to proclaim ‘Peace to all on earth’, a day when a virgin gave birth to the Messiah, a day which gave hope to the hopeless, joy to the hurt, showed the way to the lost, a day God became man, a day God chose to be born in a manger in a dirty cattle shed, a day God and man reconciled, a day God showed the greatest measure of His love for us! Truly man will live for evermore, because of Christmas day.

“The people who walked in the darkness have seen a great light. They lived in the shadows but now light is shining on them. You have given them great joy, Lord; you have made them happy. They rejoice in what you have done...For you have broken the yoke that burdened them and the rod that beat their shoulders.. A child is born to us! A Son given to us! And He will be called “Wonderful Counselor”,  “Mighty God”, “Eternal father”, “Prince of Peace.” – Isaiah 9:2-6. (Written about Jesus 700 yrs before His birth)

Let this Christmas be a special one. This Christmas let’s not get too caught up with the celebrations that we forget the Birthday Boy. Let’s not get too busy wishing others that we forget to wish Him ‘Happy Birthday.’ Let’s not get too tied up buying gifts for others, that we forget to gift Him something. Let’s not get too busy cleaning and decorating our houses that we forget to clean our hearts where He wants to be born. Let’s not get too busy talking and messaging others that we forget to take some time to talk with Him personally. Let’s not get too busy feasting on all the delicacies that we forget to feast on His Words. Let’s not get too busy being loved that we forget to love Him and others. Lets not get too busy thanking others for the gifts we receive that we forget to thank Him who has given us everything. This Christmas let’s remember the day which has the power to change our lives if we believe.

This Christmas let Jesus be born not in a crib or in a manger, but in Your Heart. And surely you will be able to sing, ‘I will live for evermore because of Christmas day!!!’

Have a wonderful and meaningful Christmas. May the Love, Joy and Peace that the baby Jesus brings fill you and your Family this Christmas. God Bless.

Amazing Love

Many a times in our lives we ask a lot of questions. And sometimes we even end up questioning God. "Why me?", "Why does it always happen to me?", "Why do I have to go through this?", "When, Lord, When?" "Why is nothing happening according to my plans?", "Why can I never change?"...... And these are the times when we don't experience His Love at all.

At these times try asking 'Why should God.....?'

Why should God who created the entire Universe, come down on earth in the form of a mere human?

Why should God leave all the big palaces and be born in a dirty manger?

Why should God go through the same troubles, worries and temptations that we go through?

Why should God choose twelve illiterate, hopeless, hated people to spread His word, to be His disciples?

Why should God walk with sinners, lepers, blind, dumb, outcasts, prostitutes, the hated and the despised?

Why should God love the sinners, the ones who went against Him?

Why should God leave the rich and powerful and take side of the poor and powerless?

Why should God forgive those who forsook Him?

Why should God wash the feet of His disciples?

Why should God get humiliated, beaten up, spat at, chastised, stripped, crucified?

Why should God forgive everyone who did this to Him?

Why should God shed every drop of blood from His body?

Why should God be crucified for the sins of every human – past, present and future?

Why should God raise up the third day after His death in all glory?

Why should God promise to be with each one of us always, till the end of this world?

Why should God give us His Body and Blood each day in the form of Bread and Wine?

Why?

The answer to all that is just one word- LOVE! His amazing Love for each one of us.

Jesus says, “The greatest love a person can have for his friends is to give his life for them. And you are my friends.” (John 15:13) He called us His friends – not slaves or creations, but friends!!! Friends whom He loved so much that He died the most painful death for us. Are we willing to be His friend?

Here is a video which shows the extent of His Love for us. It tells the Gospel story of an adulterous woman who was about to be stoned to death – the punishment according to the law. But Jesus stood in front of the entire town and wrote on the ground, “Let anyone among you who has no sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John8:7) No one dared to stone her. Jesus forgave her grave sin and gave her a new life. God’s Amazing Love washed away her sins.

We wrong God in so many ways. We sin against Him, disobey His words, live such filthy lives, say such hurting words, do such shameful things, treat others so badly, even curse and harm ourselves – knowingly and unknowingly. But still His Love for us is so amazing, so unconditional, so unfailing, so true that it overcomes all our unworthiness. “God has shown us how much He loves us- it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us!!” (Romans 5:8) “He endured the suffering that should have been ours. He was wounded and bruised for our sins! He was beaten that we might have peace; he was lashed – and we were healed! We are the ones who strayed away like sheep, we who left God’s path to follow our own. Yet God laid on Him the guilt and sin of every one of us!” (Isaiah 53:4-6) “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him may not be lost, but may have eternal Life.” (John 3:16) Father God sacrificed His Son Jesus just so that you and me may experience His love and be with Him.

That’s how amazing His love is for each one of us. No matter what situation we are in, no matter what crisis we face, no matter how sinful we are, no matter what wrong we have done, no matter how difficult it is for us to experience His love, no matter how far away we have gone from Him, He still loves us the same. And He waits for us with arms wide open, hugging us when we run back to Him, gently whispering in our ears, saying “The Mountains may be shaken and the hills may crumble, but my unfailing love for you will never end.” (Isaiah 54:10) Believe me hearing that from an Almighty God is an experience that you would cherish all your life long.

If you want to taste His Love, you don’t have to do much, just close your eyes for a moment and say a prayer, a sincere prayer that comes straight from your heart. Open your heart out to God and let Him fill you with His Love.

The Lord who created you says, “Don’t be afraid, for I have redeemed you: I have called you by name; you are mine” (Isaiah 43:1)