THE HIDDEN SIDE OF CHRISTMAS...

There is a hidden side to Christmas that is rarely talked about. Yet, it is something that needs to be addressed. Christmas preparations can be quite stressful for some people. Because, instead of celebrating the birth of Jesus, they think of the pressure they would encounter at their family home. Or they remember the not-so-great memories they had experienced at past Christmas events. Some struggle with loneliness, depression or worse still,  feelings of rejection or feeling unloved.

But this was not what God intended for people to experience when he gave us his son Jesus. How do I know? I know this because the Bible gives a clear illustration of Jesus’ humble life and why he came to earth in the first place. The Bible says in the book of Matthew that,

‘Jesus…will save his people from sins.’
(Matthew 1:21)

In otherwords, Jesus came to save us all, not to make us feel worse. That is why the Bible made a point of this in the book of Romans which says,

‘There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.’
(Romans 8:1)

Even the way Jesus came into the world is proof of  his humble disposition and what he came to do for mankind. That is, to universally accept anyone who chooses to follow him. Jesus’ life was one of humility as he was the son of a humble carpenter, whose birth took place in a manger,

‘Because there was no room for them in the inn.’
(Luke 2:7)

You would think someone would give up their room for a woman in Labour, seeing it could be a matter of life or death. Yet, the Bible says ‘there was no room available for them.’ Imagine that! Does this sound familiar? Especially when you feel alone or feel like no one cares or appreciate you and you look around, but can’t seem to find anyone to give you a helping hand.

This was how Jesus came into the world. No one was willing to make a room available, so that Mary could give birth to her son, but look at Jesus now. This same Jesus came to earth to help you, me and anyone that is in need of support. This was why the Bible describes the birth of Jesus in the book of Luke as,

‘The good news that brings joy to all people.’
(Luke 2:10)

Which means that no matter what you are going through, Jesus’ coming to earth, was a good thing worth celebrating. His birth and death, shows how much value God places on us and it was that very value, that made him lay down the life of Jesus for us. Another way to describe God’s love for us can be found in the book of John when the bible says,

‘There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.’
(John 15:3)

So, it appears, God loves us so much that he considers us not just his creation, but his friends. And what do friends do for each other? They weather the storms of life together, so that their friends won’t be alone.

Want to know what kind of friend you have in Jesus? He is,

‘A friend (who) is always loyal and (like) a brother (who) was born to help (you) in time of need.’
(Proverbs 17:17)

The crux of the matter is this, whatever your circumstances, Jesus will always be there for you, if you allow him. How can you invite Jesus into your life? All you need to do is ask. The Bible says in the book of Romans that,

‘If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.’
(Romans 10:9)

And that, my friend, is all you need to do. If you don’t know what to say, you can say this little prayer to get you started.

Father God, I believe Jesus is Lord;
I believe he died for my sins;
And that you raised him from the dead;
To reconcile me back to you.
I ask you Jesus, to come into my life;
To help me and make me whole;
In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

If you said this prayer and would like to continue on this journey of knowing Jesus, you can find a local church near you or visit this website www.lookingforgod.com. It’s run by United Christian Broadcasters and they offer a  wealth of useful information for new Christians. They also offer a daily devotional called ‘Word For Today’ which you can order for free to help you on your daily walk with God. You can also visit this blog (www.tribechrist.com/blog) if you find it useful.

Stay blessed. 

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