The Sunday Mail (Zimbabwe)

True meaning of Christmas

- Pauline Matanda

“FOR God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” — John 3:16.

This verse reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas — God’s love and the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.

We can give thanks for this gift and acknowledg­e Christ’s presence in our lives by living a life that reflects his love and grace.

Christmas is a season of hope and joy. John 3:16 reminds us of the source of this hope and joy — God’s love and the gift of salvation through Jesus.

In a world that can often seem bleak and hopeless, this verse presents words of encouragem­ent. It reminds us that no matter what challenges we face, we can find strength and peace in God’s love.

We can also find comfort in knowing that we have eternal life through Jesus.

With this in mind, we can enter the Christmas season with a sense of gratitude and celebratio­n.

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” — Hebrews 12:2.

Here, we are being urged to keep our eyes on Jesus and follow his example of faith and perseveran­ce.

Jesus endured the pain and shame of the cross because he knew the joy of eternal life awaited him. We, too, can find joy and peace by following Christ, even in the midst of difficult circumstan­ces.

In 1 Thessaloni­ans 5:18, we are told: “Give thanks in all circumstan­ces, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

As we celebrate Christmas, we should remember that gratitude is a key part of our faith. Even when things are difficult, we can give thanks to God for his presence in our lives.

This can help us to find peace and strength in any situation.

Merry Christmas to you all!

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