We are entering into the Season of Hope, the Christmas Season in which we remember when Christ, the Hope of the World came. It is with some excitement that we are seeing here in the West a growth in interest in the Faith. Bible sales are up 11-22% (https://billygraham.org/decision-magazine/articles/publishers-see-major-surge-in-bible-sales-after-charlie-kirk-s-assassination). Youths are attending churches. And I can confirm that this year, when I went decoration shopping that there has been so many Nativities, and Stars of Bethlehem to choose from, I almost have decision paralysis, when a year ago and the year before that, finding a Nativity at a local department store was like those Pickers who go through people’s old sheds, attics, and stuff, and find something valuable.
I really think a good start to this season, is a focus on Hope. That there seems to be a reprieve, a pause if it were in the West of anti Christian and antichrist to an extent. That we can celebrate Christmas with a sigh of relief, and not have to worry about some HOA person trying to get us to take down our Nativity, or some other extreme persecution. It is clear that once more, Christ is popular, which I say enjoy this while it lasts. Even in Christ’s life, he was popular when He was healing people, and doing miracles, and feeding thousands of people, but when He turned over tables, and took up a cross, he was not popular. In a similar way, the Church goes through these favor and disfavorable periods, and we often describe it as are you in your Walking on the Water period, or Gethsemane, and Calvary phase of your walk.
I say right now is a good time to enjoy the Hope. That for once things are favorable towards our Lord in the mainstream. Yes, the companies are monetizing it, they are making a lot of Nativities and etc available in wake of the popularity, this perhaps Jesus Revolution 2.0. Or Second Jesus Revolution. But that doesn’t matter, let’ s enjoy for a season that we can sing aloud, “Gloria, Excelsus Deo!” And “Joy to the World.” That we can wear our faith on our sleeve at this most sacred time in our calendar year as Christians. We need to seize this time, to really just let ourselves enjoy and relax into it like in hot spring, saying, “ahhhhh finally,” I can experience how things use to feel in the West for Christians in 1970’s and 1990’s.
For once this Christmas we have some good news in addition to the Good News we preach and listen to at the pulpit every year. That we can get carried away in the Away in A Manger, and really keep the Christ in Christmas with culture kinda propping it up cause of popularity. It really is a fun thing, when the culture is behind Christ celebrations, it use to be the norm once upon a time, and so bask in it while you can. I suggest getting full into the Xmas Spirit, and put IC XC (Greek Letters for Christ) and enjoy all the merriment! We need this, as Christians we have been under deluge for what feels like decade. Peaking especially during COVID. Though I do wan to say, during Advent we still need to remember the Persecuted Church, especially in Nigeria, and keep pressing for their relief, remembering that Christ our Savior, was persecuted even as Baby, Herod The Great tried to kill Him (Matthew 2:16-18), and His Family had to Flee to Egypt for a period of His Life (Matthew 2:13-15).
Something you could do if you feel bold is hanging a wreath on your door, the O shape of wreath being for the o in hope. For remember the apostle’s word,s “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,” (1 Peter 3:15) and “Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love..” (1 Corinthians 13:13). I tend to go on and on about Faith and Love, especially Love, but we need Hope too. Right now is a Season of Hope, of anticipation. So this Christmas time, let’s get into that Hope, and enjoy Advent, and Christmas! Amen.
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