THE GREATEST GIFT OF
ALL
Celebrating Jesus’ birth
The Search for Peace God’s priceless gift
Our Family Traditions
Meaningful connections matter
PERSONALLY SPEAKING
the christmas wish
I once signed a Christmas card saying, “I hope you have a meaningful Christmas.” Months later the recipient of that card got in touch with me and said that my Christmas wish had so resonated with her that it changed her whole way of approaching the Christmas season. And, like a boomerang, her reply then resonated with me.
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We all want to have a merry Christmas, especially as compared to a stressed Christmas or a rushed Christmas. A merry Christmas brings up images of decorations, family, friends, music, laughter, and delicious holiday food. Just thinking about it makes my eyes start twinkling.
But let’s go a bit deeper. What about a meaningful Christmas? What does that mean to me? No two Christmases have ever been alike; no matter how much I celebrate a few traditions, they never play out exactly the same way. But one factor remains a constant. The meaning of Christmas is the wonderful celebration of Christ coming to earth. The awaited Messiah rested in a rough wooden trough. His story made history, changed the course of the world, and promises to change each of our lives as well.
So, our wish to you is that this year, and every year, you will have a meaningful Christmas, with ample time to contemplate the birth of Christ with its pageant of angels, shepherds, wise men, weary travelers, and a tiny babe. What a celebration!
Christmas also takes on a deeper meaning when we find ways to help others. Maybe there is a local charity, an immigrant family, or a lonely friend or relative that you can reach out to. Christmas giving can also be part of the celebration. Take time to express your appreciation to someone you care about. Slow down. Share your blessings. Don’t despair if the world around you looks dark and gloomy; you can shine His light on those around you.
This edition of Activated tells the beautiful story of Christmas and is brimming with suggestions and reflections on how to make this season more meaningful for you and your loved ones.
May your Christmas be full of joy and meaning and may the presence of Christ be felt in your heart and home now and always.
Gabriel and Sally García Activated Editorial Team
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All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the English Standard Version (ESV). Copyright © 2001 by Good News Publishers. Used by permission. Other Bible quotations are from the following sources: New Living Translation (NLT). Copyright © 1978, 1996 by Tyndale House Publishers. Used by permission. New King James Version® (NKJV). Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. Contemporary English Version (CEV). Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society. Used by permission.
LEARNING FROM A LITTLE CHILD
By Joyce Suttin
I greatly enjoy buying new educational toys for my littlest granddaughter. I give her something almost every time I see her, and I have concluded that everything is a gift in her eyes. The box something comes in is as much fun as the toy. My presence with her is also a gift, and she gets so excited every time I walk in the door. Whether or not I bring something for her isn’t as important to her as the hug I give her when I see her.
I am reminded of what the Bible says in Matthew 18:2–4: “And calling to him a child, [Jesus] put him in the midst of them and said, ‘Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’” We could all learn to be a little more like children; and that includes humbly appreciating all the “gifts” that appear in our lives and viewing them with excitement and curiosity. Too often I look at events, circumstances, or challenges in my life and try to analyze them. Is this good or bad for me? I didn’t ask for this, what should I do with it?
I see that I can thank God in all circumstances, knowing that He can cause all things to work together for good for me. (See Romans 8:28.) I should be asking Him what I can learn from whatever comes my way. And I should especially appreciate the gift of communion with God, which gives me the faith to take what comes into my life and explore it and see what He has for me to learn.
This year brought me gifts I might not have asked for or appreciated. Sometimes, I found myself asking God why and I have wanted to toss some of the gifts away because they weren’t what I wanted. But Jesus has helped me appreciate all the gifts that come into my life. And I have come to understand that the time I’ve spent with Him is the greatest gift, because through our sweet fellowship together, He puts everything in perspective and restores my childlike joy.
Joyce Suttin is a retired teacher and writer and lives in San Antonio, USA. Check out her blog at joy4dailydevotionals.blogspot.com ■
Instead,
CHRISTMAS LOVE, JOY, AND PROMISE
By Maria Fontaine
Every year at Christmas, Christians the world over commemorate the wonders of the event of Jesus’ birth and how its impact has influenced the world and changed the course of human history forever. As we intentionally take time to dwell on Jesus’ birth and His sacrifice for us, the awe and the wonder of it can settle in our hearts and stir us to worship God for His gift of love to the world ( John 3:16). It is a timeless message of love, joy, and promise.
Christmas was a singular event that occurred in a small country, in a tiny town, two thousand years ago. But through that one event, the light and truth of the love of God poured into the hearts and understanding of all who would believe in Him. The birth of Jesus was a tangible demonstration to the entire universe of the all-encompassing power of God’s love.
This baby born in a manger in Bethlehem was destined to become the sacrificial Lamb of God, “without blemish
and without spot,” who would take away the sins of the world ( John 1:29; 1 Peter 1:18–19). He would be revealed to us as “the heir of all things, the creator of the world; the one who upholds the universe; the radiance of God’s glory and the exact imprint of His nature” (Hebrews 1:2–3).
The Bible describes the magnitude of who Jesus is. He is God manifested in the flesh as a human being, full of glory, grace and truth ( John 1:14); the Almighty who is and who always was, and who is still to come; the beginning and the end (Revelation 1:8 NLT). The Apostle Paul called Him “the image of the invisible God,” and said that “all things were created through Him and for Him and in Him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:15–17).
Jesus came to earth as the bread of life come down from heaven ( John 6:35, 51), and the true light which was to give light to everyone ( John 1:9). The Bible foretold that He would be a strength to the poor, a help to the needy
and distressed, and a refuge from the storm (Isaiah 25:4 NKJV). The Christ child, who was the most precious gift God could ever give to humanity, humbled Himself to take on human form, and would yet humble Himself through death on the cross (Philippians 2:8).
Jesus came to bring peace, for He is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). He came to bring healing and hope for all people everywhere. He is our friend, our Savior, our teacher, and our God. He is our mediator who is “able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 7:25).
Jesus’ coming to earth was the most selfless act we could comprehend. And if that was not awe-inspiring enough, He made the ultimate sacrifice and gave up His life for our sakes through a cruel and painful death on the cross, taking the wages of our sin on Himself (Romans 6:23). As a result of Jesus’ sacrifice of love and His resurrection three days later, God offers eternal life with
Him to all who will believe in and receive Jesus. What unfathomable depths of love and what an inexpressible gift for all humankind (2 Corinthians 9:15)!
We know that Jesus chose to take on human form and live a life within the bounds and restrictions of time in a physical world, and to face all that we as human beings face. God chose, out of love for us despite our sins and failings, to make the utmost sacrifice by giving His Son to rescue us and bring us into His kingdom. “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). He allowed His Son to die for our sins, which was the ultimate act of pure love.
When we celebrate Christmas each year, we join our fellow Christians around the world in an act of worship and thankfulness for God’s gift of love. As we bring our hearts to Jesus in adoration and prayer, His love, joy, and peace surround us. Even if we are facing times of hardship during the Christmas season, we are reminded of His wonderful promises.
The world is filled with the sounds of Christmas. If you listen with your outer ears, you will hear carols, bells, and laughter, and now and then a sob of loneliness. If you listen with the inner ear, you will hear the sound of angels’ wings, the hush of inner expectation, and the sacred sound of the deepest silence, the vibrant whisper of the eternal Word.
The world is filled with the sights of Christmas. If you look with your outer eyes, you will see brightly decorated trees, tinseled stars, flaming candles, and a crèche. If you look with the inner eye, you will see the star of Bethlehem in your own heart.—Adapted from Anna May Nielson
Sadly, Christmas for many is little more than a secular, commercialized holiday. There is little to celebrate for the millions of people in our world today who grapple with poverty, injustice, war, fear, and suffering. The Christmas message of God’s gift of salvation and promise of a future where there will be no more pain, suffering or tears becomes more relevant by the day, as events erode people’s sense of security in this life (Revelation 21:4).
This Christmas may we each let the message of hope ring in our hearts and radiate to those around us through our lives. May we each do our part to proclaim the Christmas message that Jesus is our eternal hope, and He is the answer for those seeking truth and meaning.
Let’s share the good news that Jesus loves each person so much that He took on human form so that He could experience the life that we all face, unshielded from its hardships and upheavals. Even though He is the Son of God, He faced dire situations from the moment of His conception in a culture where an unwed mother faced being an outcast from society. He didn’t choose the easy path through life, because in His love for us He wanted to fully experience human existence.
His earthly parents experienced displacement and fled into exile as refugees, and in so doing fulfilled prophecies in the Bible that foretold the events of His birth and life (Hosea 11:1; Isaiah 7:14). We can find hope and comfort in every kind of trouble we will ever face in this life with the sure knowledge that Jesus truly understands everything we experience, and He can sustain and uphold us through everything.
May we each do our part to share the love, joy, and promise of Christmas that hope exists, and everyone—no matter who they are or what their life has been—is invited to enter into His kingdom of peace, love, joy, and eternal life. May we be always ready to spread His message of peace, goodwill, and love so that others can experience the true meaning and joy of Christmas.
If you would like to experience the depth of love behind the Christmas story and all that it represents, I pray that you will accept Jesus’ gift of salvation if you have not already done so. You can do this by simply praying the following prayer, asking Jesus to forgive you for your sins and to be your Lord and Savior.
Jesus, I believe that You are the Son of God and that You died for me and rose from the dead. Please forgive me for all my sins. I invite You to come into my heart and life. Please fill me with Your love and Holy Spirit, and grant me Your gift of eternal life. Amen.
Maria Fontaine and her husband, Peter Amsterdam, are directors of the Family International, a Christian community of faith. Adapted from the original article. ■
THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL
By Ruth Davidson
Sometimes we take the gifts we’ve been surrounded with all our lives for granted, because we’ve grown so accustomed to them. When we think of the perfect balance of the universe, we can only marvel, even though we don’t understand how it all works. As I was pondering the wonders of God’s creation, my thoughts turned to the many blessings we’ve been given and I counted them one by one.
I began with the most obvious and tangible ones surrounding us. We wouldn’t have life without the warmth of the sun, without the air we breathe, without fresh water to drink, or without the fruit of the trees and the green herbs of the field to eat. We’ve also been given the fish of the sea, the birds in the sky, and numerous other creatures and animals.
It all seems so perfect, the whole creation operating in synchrony. What more could be needed? But wait a minute. Isn’t there something missing here? How did this perfect world get here? Was it just an accident? We have to go back to the very beginning when God created our world and everything was perfect, including the first man and woman, Adam and Eve.
When Adam and Eve believed the lies of Satan, and disobeyed God’s instruction to not eat of the tree of good and evil, they lost this perfect paradise—not just for themselves, but for everyone that followed, including you and me. Romans 6:23 tells us: “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Jesus came to take our punishment and die in our place, so that through His sacrifice we could have life and have it more abundantly ( John 10:10).
Of all the gifts we have ever received, the most precious of all descended from heaven, coming in the form of a little babe, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. What a glorious day that was! How can we not praise and thank God for giving us this priceless treasure? God’s greatest gift was His own Son, Jesus, given to us freely. The greatest gift you can give back to Him this Christmas is your heart.
Ruth Davidson (1939–2023) was a missionary in the Middle East, India, and South America for 25 years, and was an author and contributor to the website thebibleforyou.com ■
THE FIRST CHRISTMAS
By Lori Lynch
What Christmas commemorates is fundamental to the Christian faith. However, it’s not just for Christians. It affects everyone, and understanding what it means can radically change your life.
The story starts when God created everything. The Bible says He made land, plants, trees, the sun and moon, animals, and humans (Genesis 1). He also made angels, heavenly beings that do His bidding in the unseen world of the spirit (Colossians 1:15–16). Everything was perfect. No one sinned or did evil.
Unfortunately, one of the angels God created rebelled against God because he wanted to be God himself (Isaiah 14:12–14 NKJV). He became the Devil (also known as Satan) and got busy trying to ruin God’s plan. He tricked the first humans God created, Adam and Eve, into allowing sin into the world, which is known as the Fall. Humanity and even creation itself changed. There was a division between God and humanity, as God is perfect and humans were fallen. God, however, already knew that this would happen. Although He punished Adam and Eve for their disobedience, He said that a redeemer or savior
would one day come to undo the consequences of their actions (Genesis 3).
Thousands of years later, God spoke to a man named Abraham and called him and his descendants to worship only Him. It was a radical notion at a time when people worshipped a range of animate and inanimate objects. But Abraham remained true to the one true God. His descendants, the Israelites, eventually settled in the land we now call Israel. (See Genesis 11:27–25:11.)
The Israelites kept records of God’s messages given to prophets, people who were filled with God’s Spirit and wrote down what God told them. These messages included “clues” about the coming Savior. One prophet foretold that the Savior would be born in Bethlehem, a small town in Israel (Micah 5:2). Another said His mother would be a virgin (Isaiah 7:14), and that He would preach good news to the poor, free the captives, and heal the sick (Isaiah 61:1).
Around 4 BC, God put His plan into action. He sent an angel to a young woman named Mary. She was a virgin, but she was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph. The angel told Mary that she would become pregnant and have a son. What’s more, her child, Jesus, would be God’s Son and would save the people from their sins. Mary’s fiancé, Joseph, was upset when he found out Mary was pregnant, but God sent an angel to him to tell him the baby was conceived by God. Joseph married Mary as the angel had commanded him. (See Luke 1:26–35, Matthew 1:18–25.)
Joseph and Mary lived in a town called Nazareth, in northern Israel, but his family was originally from Bethlehem. When the emperor ordered everyone back to their hometowns for a census, Joseph traveled back to Bethlehem with Mary shortly before Jesus was to be born. Unfortunately, they could not find a place to stay. Popular culture typically depicts them being turned away from inns before finding shelter in a remote stable, but Bethlehem was too small to have any inns. Thus, it’s most likely the stable Jesus was born in was a small barn attached to a relative’s home.
1. https://www.gotquestions.org/is-Jesus-real.html
The Bible then tells us that, right after Jesus was born, an angel appeared to a group of shepherds watching sheep on a nearby hillside. The angel told them not to be afraid, and told them where and how to find Jesus. Once they found Him, they worshipped Him and then told the entire town about what they had heard and seen that night (Luke 2:1–20).
Another group of men, this time from outside Israel, also paid Jesus a visit after His birth. The Bible tells us that they saw an unusual star in the sky when Jesus was born. Like many people of that time period, they believed that the out-of-the-ordinary “sign in the heavens” meant something; in this instance, the birth of a new king of Israel. Thus, they started traveling to see him. At some point in the journey, or perhaps even beforehand, they realized that they weren’t just going to see royalty. The Bible tells us that when they saw Jesus, they not only gave Him gifts but also worshipped Him (Matthew 2:1–12).
There’s a lot about the Christmas story that can seem fantastical. Angels, an unusual star, and a virgin having a baby are certainly not common occurrences. But historical evidence outside the Bible tells us that Jesus was a real person who lived in the first century.1 What’s more, His mission makes perfect sense when we understand the original context.
God is just, holy, and perfect, but also merciful. The Bible says He is love itself (1 John 4:8). He can’t accept sin in His presence, but wanted to close the gap between us and Him. He doesn’t want us to suffer punishment for our sins even though we deserve to do so. That’s why Jesus came to earth. Jesus lived a perfect life, and His death paid the price for our sins. That’s why billions of people the world over, on December 25, celebrate the fact that “to us a child is born… And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
Lori Lynch is an educator who has taught children on three continents. She is also an author. She currently lives in the United States, where she homeschools her children. ■
OUR FAMILY TRADITIONS
By Marie Alvero
Christmas for our family is always a big mix and match as far as the things we do, foods we prepare, and ways we celebrate. Every year looks different, and I love that about our Christmases. There are, however, three traditions that we look forward to all year.
My kids started this tradition on their own, and it’s my favorite! All year they each put aside money from their allowance or paychecks, and by the end of the year they collectively have a nice little chunk of funds. They plan a day and go together to a local charity that provides gifts to needy families. Children enrolled in the program fill out wish lists of things they want and need. My kids will pick up as many lists as possible and spend the day shopping together for the children.
Watching them get excited about making other people happy is so precious to me! Knowing that they are doing it together is the cherry on top. I hope one day they will bring their own kids in on the fun!
We have a group of couples that have been meeting weekly for over a decade. Most of us don’t have extended family locally, so we have become each other’s local family. Our kids have become each other’s “cousins” and all the parents are “aunts and uncles.” Each year we have a Christmas party together. We potluck dinner so no one has to do too much work. We focus on celebrating this large, beautiful friendship with games, little gifts, music,
and prayer for each other. Our kids look forward to this event, too, which makes it extra meaningful.
Last but not least, we host a party in our home for a small group of friends. We have known each other for years. We all anticipate this night where we get together to catch up, cheer each other on, share some laughs, and occasionally, some tears. This party is something we all count on. We don’t put a lot of preparation into the event, other than the commitment to do it.
I’d say that the main tradition we have is making sure to share this season with the people around us. Meaningful connection matters! We are not meant to go through life disconnected from friends. Our love for God and faithfulness to Him is largely lived out in our relationships. I hope your Christmas traditions include special times with your people, and that the love and friendship shared magnifies Christ’s love for you!
Marie Alvero is a former missionary to Africa and Mexico. She currently lives a happy, busy life with her husband and children in Central Texas, USA. ■
GIFT GIVING
By Sally García
I’d say the trickiest part of Christmas is deciding whether to include gift giving. It can be a burden on your time, energy, finances, and Christmas spirit, or it can be a blessing, a way to show loved ones that you care.
Do you remember buying presents for your parents and siblings when you were young? I do. I had a certain amount of money to spend, and I would spend the month of December watching each family member with a careful eye to get some clue as to the right gift for each one. My dad was a voracious reader, especially about history. My mom and I would read the reviews of the new book releases until we found the perfect title for his gift.
I don’t really remember what gifts I received as a kid, nor the specific ones that I gave. But I do remember the care that went into selecting each present and that happy feeling of knowing that I had made the right choice. The Bible precept rings true, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
Well, those are happy memories, but I can’t say that, as an adult, every Christmas has been that idyllic. There have been many years when the list of people to buy presents for was too long, the finances too little, and the time too rushed. Consequently, there was little joy in giving, only an anxious mood.
I’d rather have the satisfaction that the Wise Men must have had when they brought their gifts to Jesus, gifts that were selected with care and from the heart. (See Matthew 2:10–11.) And I would like to celebrate—without stress—the true meaning of Christmas, which isn’t about spending and shopping, but rather about the birth of Jesus, our Savior, God’s gift to us all. (See John 3:16.)
Some tips that have helped me are:
Shop early. Throughout the year as I find a gift that I think someone would like or find useful, I buy it and put it away until Christmas.
Shop locally. I frequent small shops and fairs for original gifts. That shopping is more personal and benefits local businesses.
Stay within your budget. The love in your heart is not related to the size of the gift. I like to make handmade gifts for my larger circle of friends—Christmas tree ornaments, personalized bookmarks, sweet treats, etc.
May you have a meaningful Christmas celebration with the greatest Gift-Giver of them all, Christ.
Sally García is an educator, writer, translator, missionary, and mentor. She lives in Chile with her husband, Gabriel. ■
The Christmas of Small Things
By Josephine Kind
December 2020 was my first Christmas without my husband. He had passed away five months before, quite quickly. He still had many projects he wanted to accomplish. One of those would certainly have been a new Christmas show. That was his passion.
I could tell when he would get that glimpse of Christmas inspiration, often early in the year. That glimpse would soon turn into Christmas fever, and there he was, working till late at night writing the script, sewing costumes, assembling the props, recording the background music, and tending to the many details that putting a show together entails.
November was always practice month, and in December, the shows would start to roll, eventually completing around 50 shows in a season! After this marathon we were all exhausted, but extremely happy and fulfilled. We had brought the spirit of Christmas to many children, the elderly, and the disabled. That was the best part of our Christmas.
Christmas 2020 wasn’t only the first Christmas without my husband and his shows, but due to the pandemic, it was also the first Christmas when we were stuck in lockdown. In November, two coworkers and I sat down to discuss this abnormal, empty Christmas. What could we do? What would my husband have done? For sure he would have done something!
Finally, we realized we had our phones and the internet. We could still share the spirit of Christmas somewhere. After all, most of our friends were in the same situation; actually, most of the world was!
So, we set up our Christmas stage in the living room, and improvised a simple, rudimental show. Just a few songs and our heartfelt Christmas greetings. We felt odd creating such a simple show, but that was all we could do. When we watched our production on video (in three languages, mind you) it wasn’t so bad!
We sent it all over the world to hundreds of friends and relatives. We sent it to nearby institutions where we had performed our shows for years. They managed to at least have a little bit of us and most of all the Christmas spirit. Through our little video we crossed many physical boundaries, and the response was overwhelming.
On Christmas Day we invited a single mom and her son to have lunch with us. We weren’t allowed to have more than a certain number of people under the same roof, so we really treasured that table for five!
Truly, that was the Christmas of small things!
Josephine Kind has been active in humanitarian projects in Southern Europe for the last three decades. ■
OUR SAVIOR RELATES TO US
By Simon Bishop
There are four books of the Bible that are dedicated to the story of Jesus’ life; they record His teachings, miracles, actions, etc. Mark and John’s accounts begin when Jesus was 30 years old, at the start of His public ministry. Matthew and Luke both tell the story of Jesus’ birth, although they each contain different details, so if you want to get the full story of the first Christmas, I recommend that you read both books.
What I find interesting is that from the time of Jesus’ birth and early childhood, except for one small incident when He was 12 years old, there is no record of His early life. It is astonishing to think that Jesus was the incarnation of God in human form, and yet He spent the first 30 years—almost 90% of His entire time on earth—unknown and unrecognized!
What was Jesus doing then? Why didn’t He just come down to earth in a flash of lightning, fully grown, and start His ministry? Why did He need to be born a tiny baby, and live what in all likelihood was a very normal life?
Jesus’ life before His ministry began was so normal that neither His own family nor His neighbors or town had any indication of who He truly was. Speaking of Jesus, Matthew 13:54–56 says, “coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, ‘Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are
not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?’”
Well, I believe the answer to why Jesus came to earth as a baby is found in Hebrews 4:15. When speaking of Jesus as our intercessor, it says: “Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are” (CEV). He spent 30 years living just like us, so He could experience everything it is to be a human, all the heartache, the pain, the joy, the love, the happiness, the disappointment, and the confusion.
The above verse goes on to say, “But he did not sin!” That is the difference. Jesus is perfect, we are not; and yet, He understands us. He can relate to us, and He loves us despite everything. This is why the birth of Jesus is so precious and important, and Christmas is a cause for celebration and joy.
Simon Bishop does full-time mission and humanitarian work in the Philippines. ■
CHRIST CAME THAT NIGHT!
By Christian Sergei
It was winter in Romania. A few of us had prepared gifts and bags filled with chicken, basic food items, snacks, and fruit.
We parked our car on a dark street surrounded by large blocks of apartments in a poor area of the city. I teamed up with Marius, and off we went, following the leading of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. We entered a random building, went up the stairs, left turn, right turn, then there we were, standing at a random door.
We knocked, waited, then knocked again.
The door opened; a man stood in the doorway. Behind him we could see a bare room and a young child. He stared at us, and seeing the bags in our hands, said, “Did
my mother-in-law send you?” Then in a clenched voice he added, “I don’t want to have anything to do with her!” He prepared to close the door.
We managed to explain that this was not the case, rather that it was Christmas Eve, and we had felt a strong urge to knock at his door. He was quiet, and then stepped back and let us in.
The place was bare, with sparse furniture and dim lights. It was filled with a gloomy, sad atmosphere. No Christmas tree, no joy, no food on the table.
We began a conversation with Bogdan, who told us that his wife had just left him. He was destitute and felt even more lonely since this was Christmas Eve.
We spoke words of faith, hoping to encourage his broken heart. We then loaded his table with all the supplies and gave presents and sweets to his little girl, whose face began to shine as she broke into a radiant smile.
As we sat and talked, laughed and prayed with them both, the atmosphere in the room was transformed. It was filled with peace and light. Christ’s presence was felt in that humble abode that night.
As Marius and I walked back to our car, no words were spoken. When we were driving home to enjoy our Christmas dinner with our family, we couldn’t help but feel Jesus’ presence and an inner joy flooded our hearts. May your Christmas bring you much joy as you share its true meaning with those who need the hope of Christmas— the lost, lonely, hurting people in this world!
Christian Sergei is a teacher in Romania. ■
The Search for Peace
“Glory to God in the highest,” angels proclaimed to shepherds on the first Christmas Eve, “and on earth peace, goodwill toward men” (Luke 2:14 NKJV).
Although peace has been a goal of humankind since the devastations of World Wars I and II, our ability to find or establish peace continues to elude us. Today, war and hostilities continue in various parts of our world. True and lasting peace on every level, from international forums to nations to our personal lives, has become more difficult than ever to achieve.
In the Bible, the word “peace” means more than the absence of conflict. It means health and well-being. In the Old Testament, two Hebrew words, shalom (peace) and shalem (health or full), expressed this concept. Peace included inner (spiritual, emotional) peace, health, abundance, harmony with life on every level, even “in the midst of storm,” when problems seem to snuff out peace.
In the New Testament, the word eirene in the original Greek means “peace,” both figurative and literal, and it appears over 100 times. The expression “go in peace” means “stay warm and eat well” ( James 2:16 NLT). On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus said to His disciples: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. … Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” ( John 14:27).
As in the Old Testament, peace means much more than the “absence of conflict” in society. It means an inner sense of well-being that originates with God and is given as a precious commodity to each of us who receive the “Prince of Peace,” Jesus, without whom there is no lasting peace. The peace of God, which surpasses our human understanding (Philippians 4:7), is real and present regardless of the circumstances surrounding us.
Even when the world is in turmoil, you can have peace in your heart through Jesus Christ. Even though war and chaos may rage on the outside, you can experience His peace that is not dependent on your circumstances.
Jesus is our peace. Our help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth (Psalm 121:2). This Christmas, Jesus offers to every soul on earth true peace, unfailing comfort, and eternal life and love. All of these are wrapped up in His priceless gift of salvation. ■
Peace on Earth
In celebration of My birth, you can join the multitude of angels that proclaimed “Glory to God in the highest,” and echo their prayer for peace on earth and goodwill toward men (Luke 2:13–14 NKJV). Just as I taught My first disciples, you can pray for My kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). In My kingdom there will be no more war, oppression, injustice, poverty or hopelessness, for I am the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).
I have said that the peacemakers will be blessed, for they will be called the children of God and they will inherit the earth (Matthew 5:3–9). You can be a peacemaker and do your part to bring My peace to the world today—no matter what conditions surround you. You can bring true peace by imparting My love and compassion to others through kind words and caring actions.
This Christmas, you can share the gift of My peace with others and bring My hope, joy and eternal love into their lives. Never think that you can’t make a difference in the world. Even one man or woman empowered by My love can be an instrument of My peace to others. You can bring change to your part of the world—your unique sphere of influence in your home, community and workplace—by pointing people to My lasting peace and eternal salvation.
From Jesus with Love