PASTOR'S REFLECTOIN

The great irony of the Xmas celebrations

“If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on My holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable, and shall honor Him; not doing thine own ways, not finding thy own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words; then shall thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it” (Isa 58:13-14)

Although this passage is specifically addressing the sanctity of the Sabbath, I will not fail to liken the Christmas day and its celebrations, as of the same solemnity and importance, to a Christian. Christian celebrate Christmas to commemorate the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, to respect and honor Him as their Saviour and Redeemer. It is a period of complete gratitude to God for all He has done and are doing for Christianity and mankind through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Beloved, it is very sad to say here that despite the number of churches and their attendant worshippers all over the world, a lot of us do not know the essence of Christmas and its celebrations. Many today are celebrating the Christmas and its holidays without knowing or respecting the very One who it is ordained for. Several of us are doing the wrong things, married to church activities and programmes that does not truly reflect the solemnity and importance of Christmas. Several carols and other activities of this period are packaged only to entertain and not to lead people to Christ.
The truth dear friends, is that the church have turned away from the essence of Christmas; Each one is doing his or her pleasure, speaking his or her own words, and only a few see this season as a holy and delightsome period unto the Lord. The fact is that Christmas day and its celebrations are not for ostentations display of wealth, worldly parties, misplaced priorities and fashions. Rather, it is a period that God requires all Christians to turn away from doing our own pleasures, acting on ways that are not in consonance with the will of God, but to delight in the honor and adoration of God.
Most assuredly, if you delight yourself in the Lord and celebrate the true essence of Christmas, the Lord shall cause you to ride the high places of the earth and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father. (Isa  58:14)
Wishing you a merry Xmas and a prosperous 2016!

Pastor Kelechi Nzeh