"The True Spirit of Christmas: Celebrating God's Love and Joy"

 

Very recently, I felt the cold harmattan wind hit me, accompanied by a very unlikely fragrance. It reminded me of the season that is knocking at our doors. Once the fragrance of Christmas is in the air, we welcome the season with open arms.

The festive period is upon us, and many eagerly anticipate Christmas movies. These films often follow a familiar pattern—different characters, jobs, and ultimately, love and happiness. Beyond that, the festive atmosphere holds something special: happiness, love, and joy. Families unite, sharing moments and escaping life's chaos. Homes that have undergone crisis might at this point unite and bond again.

As we prepare for this special time, consider what the season truly represents. Share God's kindness, brought to the world through Jesus Christ. Jesus' coming—and presence—brings joy.

Luke 2:10 (NIV): "But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people."

This joy is meant to be shared, spreading our light.

Christmas is near, perfect for reflecting on God's love for humanity. Let's make this season more than buying clothes, preparing meals, and traveling. Consider Christmas' deeper significance.

For Christians, Christmas celebrates Jesus Christ's birth, the Savior. Unfortunately, many overlook Christmas' religious meaning, treating it as another holiday.

Why celebrate? Are we honoring Jesus or checking tasks—gifts, meals—without pondering the season's true meaning?

As Christmas approaches, reflect on God's immense love.

1 John 4:9-11 (NIV): "This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."

Spread God's love, share His kindness, and let joy overflow.

Stay revived in the spirit of Christmas!

Breaking free: Unshackling your true self.

Do you ever feel like the place God has prepared for you is beyond what your present self can attain or enjoy? Do you sometimes wonder if you truly deserve God's promises?

Life's challenges can make us question God's care and concern. But when we realize something feels wrong, it's essential to focus on our response, as it holds the key to finding a way out.

Are there things in your life that God is trying to remove, but because you've been so attached to them, they've shaped your identity? This often happens when we remain too long in situations of oppression or struggle. We become accustomed to our problems, which create a false identity.

Oppressions and negative patterns may seem like fate but are the enemy's attempt to trap us in destructive cycles. The enemy seeks every loophole to steal, kill, and destroy.

However, The Lord has come to deliver and when the Lord delivers us, it feels like we're a completely new person. This transformation is one only God can bring.

John 8:36 (NIV): "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

During my service year, I met a young lady who exemplified this truth. Initially, she was quarrelsome and troublesome. As a matter of fact, the first day I met her, she argued with someone, and a meeting was called. She was always having issues with her roommates. The enemy oppressed her and gave her a false identity, shaping her behavior, even when new occupants arrived at the lodge. She still had issues with them. To the glory of the Lord, she was delivered, and I noticed changes in her personality. When she was delivered, she was transformed.

These negative patterns can manifest in various forms: addictions, bad habits, greed, anger, poverty, relationships patterns, etc. We often forget God's power to break us free.

Colossians 2:14 (NIV): "Having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness... he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross."

Jesus has canceled the patterns holding us back. And He is restoring us to our rightful position in him.

Psalm 139:14 (NIV): "I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful; I know that full well."
Romans 8:37 (NIV): "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."

The false image you've held is not yours. The solution you seek is in God, and He will meet you exactly where you are. Stop trying to carry the burden alone—bring it to Jesus. He alone can help you break free from addictions and destructive patterns. It's time to emerge and enjoy life, breaking free from the enemy's grasp. Bring your burdens to Jesus.

"How Justification by Faith Relates to Sanctification"

Justification by Faith 

On Saturday, my younger sister asked a question: "How did I stop coming out for altar call?" She shared that, growing up in our local assembly, she would respond to the altar call every Sunday, saying the sinner's prayer after each sermon. But now, she couldn't remember the last time she did that. As I sought the Lord about what to post today, this story came to mind.

Are you Justified?

Justification is an intentional act of dedicating our lives to Christ and trusting Him with our eternal destiny. It is being in right standing with the Lord, declared righteous—something we cannot achieve on our own, because, as Psalm 51:5 states, we were conceived in sin.

However, justification doesn't stop there. After being justified, we must also be sanctified. Sanctification is a continuous process, and we grow in it through the Word of God.

Romans 3:10 says, "There is none righteous, no, not one." This reminds us that all have sinned and fall short of God's glory. But through the death of Jesus, we are separated from our sin and made righteous. Jesus took our sins upon Himself, bore the consequences, and died for us so that we might be justified.

Self-righteousness is not enough to become a child of God. One must intentionally choose to give their life to Christ. This decision is the first step in the process of justification.

Romans 3:21-26 (RSV):

21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the law and the prophets bear witness to it,
22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction,
23 since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24 they are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption, which is in Christ Jesus,
25 whom God put forward as an expiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.
26 it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies him who has faith in Jesus.

Justification means that the sins we were born with, as well as the sins we committed before giving our lives to Christ, have been forgiven. Through Jesus' sacrifice which we received as a gift and by his blood we are cleansed and justified through our faith, we are declared righteous in God's eyes.

When we give our lives to Christ, we are declared friends of God. However, justification is not possible through the law alone; it requires faith. As Romans 3:28 says, "For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law."

Self-righteousness is not enough to become a child of God. One must intentionally choose to give their life to Christ. Right behavior doesn't produce a right relationship with God—justification through faith produces this relationship. Justification is not by works, but by faith. This decision to follow Christ is the first step in the process of justification.

Being justified, however, doesn’t mean we can continue living in sin. True justification is always followed by sanctification. And it is sanctification that produces spiritual fruit. If you have given your life to Christ, old things have passed away, and behold, all things are new.

As justified believers, we should not just go around telling people, but showing them. "By their fruit, you shall know them." If you are not aware of the power of the Holy Spirit, you will not remain long in justification, because it is the Holy Spirit that empowers us to live a righteous life.

To live a consistent justified life, you must rely on the help of the Holy Spirit and consistently grow in Him. For, as the Bible says, "By strength shall no man prevail." When you are justified, you need to grow in holiness that leads to eventual glorification. I am convinced that the good work which the Lord has started, He shall see it through to the end.

Amen.

''Finding Acceptance with El Roi: The God Who Sees You."

FINDING ACCEPTANCE WITH El Roi: The God Who Sees Me.

Have you ever felt unseen or rejected?

As a young child, I had a life-changing experience during my upper basic school. When the dance and drama group was announced, everyone, including myself, wanted to join.

But during the audition, I didn’t quite fit in. The dance teacher scolded me, and I was rejected from the team.
Then as I became a teenager my classmates criticized me for having dry skin and not meeting their beauty standards, which led me to withdraw from social activities.

Instead, I sought comfort in books, thinking, 'They'll need me now because I’m knowledgeable and intelligent.'

What do you know about the story of Hagar?

Hagar's story is found in Genesis 16:1-16 and 21:8-21.
Hagar was an Egyptian servant or handmaiden to Sarah, Abraham's wife (Genesis 16:1). Her name means "stranger" or "sojourner" in Hebrew.
After being barren till old age Sarah suggested Abraham take Hagar as a concubine to bear him a child. When Hagar became pregnant, her attitude towards Sarah changed which led to a mistreatment from Sarah. In response to Sarah's attitude, she fled to the wilderness.

It was at the wilderness; she encountered an Angel of the Lord (Genesis 16:8-12 NIV)

And he said, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I’m running away from my mistress Sarai,” she answered.
Then the angel of the Lord told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count. The angel of the Lord also said to her: “You are now pregnant, and you will give birth to a son. You shall name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard of your misery. He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.”

It was expected after she heard this from the Angel, she would feel bad based on the news she got about her child, but this point she felt accepted and remembered because what she wanted was to be seen. She heard always felt like a pawn in Sarah's scheme to have a child outside God's plan but at the point, She said ''I have now seen a God who sees me'' At this point she affirms that I was never forget I am part of God's plan. It was at that moment she named God as "El Roi," the God who sees me.

In Genesis 21:14-19, we see God's compassion and kindness toward Hagar:
"And God heard the voice of the lad... 'What troubles, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is" (Genesis 21:17, NASB).

Hagar's story reminds us that God's love isn't based on our achievements or status. No matter your circumstances, no matter how the world sees you, remember that El Roi sees you with love, acceptance, and compassion. You are never forgotten or abandoned by God.
God sees and accepts us, regardless of our past or circumstances.
His love is unconditional and not based on our achievements.
We have a place in His heart, and He desires a relationship with us.
If you’ve felt overlooked or rejected, take a moment today to connect with El Roi.
The God who has a place for you.
Let Him remind you of your worth and his unconditional love.


YOU ARE SEEN, YOU ARE VALUED, AND YOU ARE NEVER ALONE.