|
|
 |
|
 |
| |
In more than three decades of my Christian life, I have been blest by 2 types of Daily devos'
(matter not exceeding 500 words) in universal Christian literature. Not only those Devos'
which have a different theme everyday but also the ones which revolve around a certain
theme over a period of time, say a fortnight, have richly edified me. In fact, both
styles have their own inherent advantages. If the former style caters to the varying
spiritual needs of a christian from day-to-day, the latter aims 'to ground'
a child of God in a certain subject in order he derives the full benefits of the
deep insightful study of a certain topic, spread over a fixed span of time.
In my Daily devo page, I have consciously tried to go in for 'a blend of both the
styles' whereby within a constant theme, I would be aiming to focus on different
facets of it which admittedly is a closer imitation of the 'Constant theme' style
than the 'Varying topics' one.
As the month of December coincides with the Christmas season, in this month I intend to
dwell exclusively on all the topics revolving around Christmas using the visit of the
Wise man described in Matthew 2 as the base.
Let me wish you a happy and an edifying read… oh yes-MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF US!
Suresh Manoharan
|
|
|
December 25th
The ‘BC and AD’ of One’s Life
Apostle Paul’s Road to Damascus experience
As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed
around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul,
why do you persecute me?" "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. –
Acts 9:3-5
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had
seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the
child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed – Matt 2:9-10
|
| |
| |
In our meditations on the Christmas story revolving around the visit of the Wise men,
we come to the ‘Merry Christmas experience’ of the Wise men as the above-captioned Gospel
portion bears out. They were overjoyed states the scripture at the very prospect of seeing
the Saviour of the World. If the prospect of merely seeing the Saviour can fill one with joy then
what about the joy of those, whose lives have been transformed by his power, in whose hearts the Saviour
lives. Paul, after his ‘Road to Damascus’ experience
(Acts 9:1-20) could testify with joy
‘I am a new creation’
(II Cor 5:17).
That in essence is the significance of Christmas, for it led not only to the division of World history
into 2 parts BC and AD, rather more importantly it leads even today into division of a redeemed sinner’s
life into 2 parts ‘Before Christ and After Christ’, filling his life consequently with meaning and purpose.
Like apostle Paul, Zacchueus the born-again tax collector branded hitherto as ‘the scum of the society’
by the self-righteous Jewish clergy could testify in essence
(refer Luke 19:8),
‘before Christ came
into my life, I was an avaricious tax collector but after Christ came, I am a different man’.
Besides apostle Paul and Zacchueus have not millions testified about the life-transforming power
of the Lord, so much so, they were willing to stake their lives for it?
Yes, dear friends, it is that life-transforming power - Christ’s birth brought in its wake -
which makes Christmas ‘special’ filling us with delight, even as this amazing truth takes
root in our hearts.
Besides the Wise men, it is Merry Christmas for all of us, too who have tasted his redemptive
love and power! Ah, what pleases God most…can it be anything more than a sinner being
transformed by His redemptive power
(Luke 15:7)!
NOW OFFER OF GOD’S SALVATION IS AVAILABLE
EVERYDAY…INCLUDING THIS CHRISTMAS DAY! SO IN CASE, YOU HAVE NEVER TASTED HIS REDEMPTIVE GRACE,
WHY DO NOT YOU MAKE THIS CHRISTMAS “EXTRA-SPECIAL” BY DOING IT TODAY!
(II Cor 6:2)
Prayer:
Father, words to fail us when it comes to expressing our joy and gratitude for making us
your ‘own’ by virtue of the life and atoning work of thy dear Son and our Lord, who was
born on the ‘First Christmas’. Illumine and enlighten the minds of everyone as to the
true significance of Christmas. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
|
| |
Back
Next......
|
|
|
|
|
