When I was a kid, it felt like Christmas would never arrive. But the older I get the faster it seems to come. I am writing this on Christmas day but before we know it, next Christmas will be here. This holiday season means a variety of things to different people. For some it is the happiest time of the year; in fact there are those who are already getting ready for next year’s Christmas. For others, it stirs up lot of painful memories that opens up old wounds. I pray Christians have looked beyond their past, the gifts, the parties, and the family time and reflected on Jesus’ birth the reason this day was set aside. Hard financial times may have limited your giving this year. Hopefully, you are not one who will struggle through the coming year paying off the credit cards because you believed the more expensive the gift the greater you were expressing your love.
Christmas is about giving, but not the way the marketing world has defined it. Giving is not merely about exchanging costly items. No gift could ever cost more than what God paid with the death of His Son Jesus so we could receive the gift of eternal life. His gift not only insures our eternal destiny, it also gives us a new life. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature (2 Co 5:17). With our new life, we receive His daily love and the ability to love others as He loves us. Through Him, we can give true love to our families, neighbors, and even the world around us. Through Him, we learn that love is not measured with dollar signs. The greatest gift anyone can give their family is living a Christ centered life.
By the time I publish this, the New Year will be within hours. We view this as an occasion for new beginnings. People will make multiple New Year’s resolutions hoping to change their life. However, research studies show that 88% of those who set New Year resolutions fail. The problem lies in the fact that in most instances people’s attempts are based on human effort alone. I have always wondered if a person needs changes in their life, why do they wait until a New Year.
This may have been the worst year you have ever lived. You might have failed in everything you attempted. Some have tried to make up for their failures toward others by expensive gifts and now are in debt up to their ears. Your family may be in chaos. OK! That is history and nothing you do will change the record. Yet note what the LORD said through Isaiah, The past events have indeed happened. Now I declare new events; I announce them to you before they occur (42:9 Holman). You cannot change the past, but you can start with a new beginning through the power of the Holy Spirit. Human effort alone is useless. But with the gift of salvation, Jesus has sent the Holy Spirit to live within us. He energizes and empowers the new life He has given us. He produces the fruit of the Spirit– love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Gal 5:22,23 ). Take time this week and meditate on each of these fruit then ask yourself, how much different would next year and next Christmas be if these were continually growing in your life?
I imagine some of you are saying, “I’ve tried already, but I failed.” That is the reason you failed, “I tried.” A Christ centered life and seeing the fruit of the Spirit develop is not about you trying with self-effort. It is about surrender and allowing the Holy Spirit to take control of your life. I have a friend who struggled with a particular issue for years. Then suddenly the problem was gone. I asked what changed. “I just gave up and stopped trying and let the Holy Spirit take over.”
Yielding your life to the Holy Spirit is not a one-time once for all event. Paul says be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18). The word translated filled means to ‘be controlled by’. The unusual grammar in this verse could be paraphrased ‘be constantly moment by moment controlled by the Spirit’. Even after fifty years as a Christian, I still must surrender my life to the Holy Spirit every day especially in areas of my weaknesses. I always fail when I try on my own, but I am amazed when I see what He has done through me when I allow Him to be in charge.
What does all this cost? The price tag is more than all of mankind put together could pay. Bank accounts would be empty and Credit cards would be maxed out, but the debt would remain unchanged. This year a few individuals went to get their layaway gifts and discovered some generous stranger had already paid their debt. Jesus has already paid for the gift of salvation. We only need to receive it. We can enjoy all the benefits by allowing the Holy Spirit to take control.
Sustaining Word for the Week: You do not have to wait until next Christmas or the New Year. It is available at any time. Let Him take control, watch His fruit grow and give your family the gift of a Christ centered life.