As Christian men and women, we know the true meaning of Christmas in our hearts, but how many of us proclaim this fact to the world around us during the holidays? We can gently challenge those who would see Christmas as a time for commercialism and greed by letting our actions speak for themselves.
Share it. How about giving an unforgettable gift to a friend or fellow employee? Present them the gift of the Word. Tell the Christmas story, and make sure it's not "Twas the Night before Christmas". Brochure or leaflets recounting the birth of Jesus Christ can be bought from a Christian bookstore. Or, how about making your own booklet. A small token, such as a candle, can be included too. Envelope someone's tired heart with God's message.
Share His love. When someone invites a person to their house, it signifies that their wish to share God's blessings. When we accept Christ into our lives, his home becomes our home. Invite a friend or co-worker to church for an Advent service or a family Christmas Eve church service. They'll thank you for including them.
Show it. For poor people, life gets a little bit harsher around the holiday season. More bad thing happen. People in great need, like the poor and destitute, become more so due to the harsh conditions this time of year brings. God tells us to reach out and help these people.
Volunteers are a big help during the holidays. Extra set of hands are greatly needed by soup kitchens and food banks to prepare and serve nice hot meals, as well as help with food deliveries. Local community agencies can provide information on families near you that could use some extra care during Christmas. With support from a church body, everyone can join in and help give gifts and other needed materials. Providing gifts for orphaned children can also be a church project or one taken on by individual families within the congregation. If you see a need that has yet to be met, begin your own program to provide it or just do it as a family.
The goal here is to let Christ's light shine to those around you. In his lifetime, Jesus saw each individual's need where they were. Someone whose been helped by you will be more likely to listen about the God you are serving.
A commitment to Christ is a commitment to communicate his life and love to others. If Christ is number one in your lives, your actions should let everyone know it. As Christians, we have a unique opportunity to bring to the world, a true understanding of the Christmas season.
