Christmas Faith

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Hebrews 11:1 NIV

It's Christmas Eve! Tomorrow, we will celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! It happened long ago, and we can no longer go to see the baby lying in a manger. While He was probably not born at this exact time of year, this is when we choose to remember that moment. Even though none of us can physically see baby Jesus right now, there is still something about this season.

In this season, Christians and non-Christians alike take the time to share one of Jesus' commands---to love one another. It is the time of year when emotions reach an all time high. People are either extremely happy or extremely unhappy, and it all stems from the abundance of lack of love in their lives.

The spirit of love is everywhere in this season, but it is up to each human to choose to be a carrier of this spirit and to pass it on to others. It is those that we do not reach out to who feel the sadness of the loss of love. And, even though we do not see what is happening in the spiritual realm, I have faith that many spiritual battles are fought at this time of year.

I read today that there is a new word among the contemporary culture called xmax. It celebrates the total lack of mentioning the baby Jesus at Christmas and rather celebrating xmax. No, I don't mean to say xmas. It is truly xmax, and it is meant to totally disassociate itself from the original word Christmas. However, it doesn't matter what people call it. If they are taking time to be more generous, to share love with their neighbor, and to be more kind, then they are celebrating the spirit of Christmas whether they acknowledge it or not.

Truly, the most vital things that happen in our lives are things that we do not physically see. They are simply things that we have faith in. Our beliefs are rooted deep in our core. The evidence of our Savior is never more evident than at Christmas. We don't have to physically see Him to see the evidence of Him all around us.

This Christmas, as Christians, have faith that, no matter your physical situation right now, you have already received the most precious gifts! They are all the ones that you can not see, and yet they are the things that have the most impact on your life!