Message of Christmas – A Loving God

The message of Christmas – A Loving God

When we look at the manger , we can only think of the Love of God towards us. The message of Christmas is all about this loving God.

Secondly , The message of Christmas is so personal

• For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting  Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

A child was born to us, to you and me. It was a personal  gift to you and me.

• Therefore the Lord will Himself give you a sign. Behold, the virgin will conceive and will give birth to a Son, and you shall call His Name “Immanuel” (i.e., “God is with us”).Isaiah 7:14(1:23)

He will be called Immanuel , God with us.

“Christmas is full of surprises.” Somewhere in my reading this week I came across that sentence. “While I am sure it is true, it doesn’t always seem true”. Christmas poses a yearly challenge to those of us who have heard the story since we were children. After you have attended 20 or 30 or 40 Christmas pageants, and after you have listened to at least that many Christmas sermons, and heard (and sung) every Christmas carol a few hundred times, what more is left to be said that hasn’t been said before?

If we know about Christmas at all, you know about Mary and the angel Gabriel, about the dangerous journey to Bethlehem, about Caesar’s decree, about Herod’s insane jealousy, about the inn with a “No Vacancy” sign, about the angels and the shepherds, and about the mysterious Wise Men from the east, and the last-second flight into Egypt. All of these stories are so well known that when we hear them again, we don’t really hear them at all because we’ve heard them all before. We hear but we don’t hear.

That is indeed a problem.

This event in History changed the entire course of mankind. God sent his only begotten Son for you and me.

If we want to go back and ask this question to ourselves, “Why did we need a Savior?, Why Christ has to be born?

Romans 3:23

²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

There was a huge gap between Man and God because of Sin. And Christ to be born to pay the ultimate price for Sin . He, who is blameless and without Sin.

What is the message of Christmas in our lives? We are going to look from

                  John 3:16

                   ¹⁶ 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.

1. Love : When we know someone loves us , we can walk an extra mile with them right? If we know , that our boss loves us , cares for us and if he asks us to work on 25^th dec , what would be our response? Just on a lighter note.

It was all because of Love. Today morning do we doubt God’s love? Do we question his love towards us? He loves us and that’s the reason Jesus was born for us.

Do we love people the way God loved us?

2. Giving : God the father gave his one and only son . The son i.e. Jesus Christ gave his life on the cross. The message of Christmas is about giving. Jesus gave up his heavenly throne and was born in a manger , a stinking place, and what God expects this morning from us is to give our hearts to him , to give our life to him.

3. Sacrifice : “whoever believes in him” . Trusting requires his will to be done not our will. We need to give away our desires . Sacrifice our desires for the grand story of Christ.

4. Eternal life : We have an assurance , that we are going to live after death. Our life here is temporary and our Christ has prepared a place for us in heaven. Are we all excited for this Eternal life? What we are going to achieve here is temporary, our Job , investment , good life style . We need to focus on building something which is permanent i.e. in heaven.

God needs people : Many things played a key role during the birth of Christ, on Christmas day.

He needs people with whom God can work:

Mary : Who will not doubt

Joseph : Accept the will of God

Shepherds: People with the naïve heart (No shrewdness), celebrated Jesus.

Inn Keeper: Helpful people

Wise Men (Magi): People who will look beyond and expect unexpected things

Angel: Messenger, Protected and guided

Star: To show the way of Christ.

God needs people who will not doubt in his plans , God needs people who will accept the will of God , God needs who will have a clean heart , no deceit and they will celebrate Jesus , God needs people who will be helpful , God needs people who will look beyond and expect the unexpected things, God needs people who will be a messenger , guide and protect, God needs people who will show the way to others and lead them to Christ. That is , God needs you and me for this grand grand story.

I believe , we all are part of a grand story , Who are we in this story? Currently we are part of some story today. We may be students , working professionals, house wives , retired professionals , children. Who are we in this story and he wants us to play a major part in this story . Can we accept this invitation of partnering with Him today?

Virjil Selvan is Pastoring the New Hope Community. The New Hope Community is situated in the heart of the city between Old and New Panvel. We can confidently share that New Hope Community is a Church in Kamothe, Church in Khandeshwar, Church in Khanda Colony, Church in Panvel, Church in New Panvel because we are centrally located and these places surround our church Venue.