I remember the time of my childhood. I used to wait for Christmas very anxiously because on every Christmas my father gave me money and gifts for Christmas celebrations. With this money and gifts I enjoyed time with my friends and shared gifts with others. I hope for Christmas with my father because my celebration depends on my father giving, and this is a source of joy for me and friends.

Today, when I look at the Christmas story, I remember my heavenly Father. He gives me the real true joy and shares his divine love and hope with me. I want to share my devotional message on three points.

1. Christmas is a time of giving.

John.3.16. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, so that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

The Good News is that God shared his only son with the world. Giving is not a easy job. It is possible because of love. Love makes us able so that we can share something with others. The Christmas message is to share your blessing with others. This is the real joy of Christmas. There are many needy and deserving people around you, so do not miss them. Share your blessings and Christ with them.

2. Christmas is a time of hope.

This event fulfills the hope of the world because many people were waiting for the Messiah to come into this world. Luke 2.23. And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and the man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

God fulfilled his hope and he saw the Christ. Today there is hope for world because the Son of Man has come into the world. There is no doubt of salvation. He is the Savior of the world. There is a medicine for the sin in the stable of Bethlehem. Come and take this medicine. There is hope for the world. You are not alone. Christ is with you, and this is great hope for the world and for me.

3. Christmas is a time of joy.

Christmas provides the opportunity of joy, as on Christmas after receiving gifts , I rejoice with my friends and share with my friends as God shared his joyful news . Luke 2:10 And the angel said unto them, "Fear not for, behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

This is the divine celebration and shepherds accepted this order and saw this good news in the manger. They were very joyful and happy, and they shared this joyful news with others, so they were the first Evangelists because they proclaimed this news and celebrated it with others. They worshipped God and praised Him. We have to celebrate this news with others. The news of the birth of Christ is a time of celebration for the world.

Let's celebrate by accepting Christ as our personal savior.

 

Pastor Barkat is a graduate of Punjab University. After receiving a call to ministry in 1999 he attended Gujranwala Theological Seminary, graduating in 2003 with a Master of Divinity (His thesis covered a Biblical model of house churches.) Upon graduating he started pastoral ministry with the Anglican Church and was ordained in 2004, working within that church in different positions until mid 2015 when he got the opportunity for a short training program on Pneumatology from South Korea. Suneel currently is a visiting teacher in an evangelical Bible College empowered by Korean Mission in Pakistan, as well as doing independent teaching and preaching ministry. He has established many Bible study groups and I have passion to preach in remote areas of Pakistan.