Giving Thanks To The Only Person Of Christmas

Christmas season is always a joyous time of the year. After Thanksgiving, we are all preparing to celebrate the birth of our “Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (Lk 2:11). Children are especially excited because they receive gifts, and parents look forward to their joy! Paul exhorts us to “rejoice evermore” (v. 16). This is one of the most wonderful encouragements for all bible-believing Christians to devote ourselves in serving our Lord Jesus “with gladness” (Ps 100:2). With all the events that are happening in the world today (2 Tim 3:1), most people may not have a lot of reasons to rejoice. But we can always “rejoice in Christ” (Php 3:3), when we “worship Him in spirit and in truth” (Jn 4:24)! At the heart of Paul’s encouragement is for us to have a spirit of thanksgiving “in every thing.”

That includes every difficult and challenging circumstances that we face in life (Ps 46:1). Because God’s “grace is sufficient” (2 Cor 12:9), and “we know that all things work together for good to them that love God” (Rom 8:28). It is His will for us to thank Him always – His purpose is for our good and for His glory! We are especially thankful for sending His Son, Jesus Christ, through the miraculous virgin birth (Isa 7:14). When the angels brought “good tidings of great joy to the shepherds” (Lk 2:10), they announced the birth of God in human flesh!

The “Word was God” (Jn 1:1) – this is the clearest and most precise statement that Jesus indeed is God. He is co-equal (Jn 10:30), and co-eternal (Jn 17:5), with the Father. Because He is essentially God (Rev 19:16). He has proven to be God by showing His power “to heal all manner of sickness” (Mt 10:1), and through His death (Php 2:8), “He might destroy him that had the power of death” (Heb 2:14). His every word and work declared Him to be God. Therefore, we give thanks to the only Person of Christmas! God bless you!

- Pastor Melito Barrera