Skip to main content

Merry Christmas


Merry Christmas everyone

Christmas is the best time of the year. There is joy, there is homecoming, there is sharing, there are cakes and appam and stew, there are lots of crackers. The year ends with a bang. Rejuvinated and renewed we go into the new year.

I was often biased of the symbols of Christmas. I always thought they are remnants of customs and praxis. They are actually ghosts of what our forefathers meant with good intention, lost the purpose, yet stay as ornaments.
I thought it was worthwhile to revisit what the symbols exactly mean.

1. Star - Star signifies the bright new star that appeared on the sky during Jesus birth. The wise men were led to Jesus by the star.
Thus the symbol star signifies, the pointer to Jesus, the real morning star.
2. Candles - when there was no electricity, candles were used to light up the whole place. Now they have slowly given way to multicoloured LED lights and illuminations. Candles and decorative lights signify that Jesus is the light of the world. The light of the world came down on to the earth to save us. He Himself claimed that He is the light the world needed.

3. Tree - It's not just a tree, it's actually evergreen tree. Its a fir tree that stays green althroughout the year. An evergreen tree reminds us of the eternal life and everlasting hope that we have in Christ Jesus.

4. Gifts - Gifts are always source of joy because it's a time of sharing. The best gift we have is Christ redeeming us from our sins. There was no hope for us. Salvation is the best thing that happened in our lives.

5. Holly - Holly plant signifies immortality. And it also reminds us of the thorn filled crown that was placed on Christ's head. And the red berries reminds us of the drops of blood that was shed for us.

6. Wreath - signifies the unending love Christ has for us. Not expecting anything from us. But unconditional agape love.

There are many more symbols which has its own meaning and significance. Like the candy canes, stockings, bells, Santa and so on. 
But the best symbol we often forget is the cross. All the others point to this.

My friend Cherry says - The best gift is not found under a Christmas tree but on the wooden cross on Calvary.
There is no meaning of Christmas without the cross. 
Unless the blood that was shed on the cross doesn't mean everything to you, Christmas in all its galore is useless. 

Wishing you once again a meaningful Christmas
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Permissible

All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything. 1 Cor:6:12 Everything is permissible. But not everything is beneficial. Let it not overpower you. You shall not be addicted to it. Definitely not the vice things. But the not so harmful things. The harmless habits. Things that you can, but would you? Does it edify you? Is it beneficial? 1 Cor:10:23 is the litmus test. Does it bring God glory? Ask yourself. Why do I want to do this? Does it bless me? Or will it take me farther away from God. Put your thoughts to what you do. Do not go with the trend. Just because others are doing. Just because of the hashtag. Just to be viral. Just to gain acceptance. Is it good? Is it profitable? Will I be mastered by it? Is it beneficial? Image credit: https://www.whoa.in/gallery/funny-men-wallpaper
1 comment
Read more

Mere men - a prose

Are you not walking like mere men? 1 Cor:3:3 Why are you mere men, when you have the mind of Christ? Why are you running for the things of this world, when you have the mind of Christ? Why jealousy and envy, when you have the mind of Christ? Why the strife and unrest, when you have the mind of Christ? Why the faithlessness and unfaithfulness, when you have the mind of Christ? Mere men run around material things. Mere men look for earthly satisfaction. Mere men have shortsightedness rather than eternal heavenly perspective. Mere men think of finite goals. Yet you have the mind of Christ. Invest in the word of God and not fleshly motives. Invest in unceasing prayer. Invest in trusting and holding fast to Him. Not like mere men who have temporary goals. But you have the mind of Christ with an eternal mindset. Image credit: https://feedingonjesus.com/2019/05/07/never-lost-in-the-crowd-2/
Post a Comment
Read more

To discipline

1 Cor:9:27 But I discipline my body and make it my slave. Self control is a discipline. A gift. A fruit. A quintessential quality for a disciplined, gifted and fruitful life. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self control in all things. To beat my body. To discipline literally means, to hit under the eye. To knock the body out, so that you may win. Regarding gluttony, lust, negative thoughts, anger, hatred, vengeful words. Have self control. Keep quiet when you need to. Say no, when you ought to. Keep the mouth shut, when you are supposed to. It is not just the willpower, but about grace too. Both are important for self control. If you don't have the will power ask for GRACE. Grace is always there. Seek grace, because it is made available always. It is just that once you are made aware of the need, you seek, you pursue.  You might fall occasionally. But get up and start from scratch. It is worth it. Image courtesy: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/32...
2 comments
Read more

Love your neighbour

He who loves his neighbour has fulfilled the law. Rom:13:8 Love is the core of everything. He who loves his neighbour will not do him/her any harm. No adultery  No murder. No stealing. No coveting. All of the law is summed up in this. The good Samaritan's story tells us whom to love and to what extend to love. Prayer:  Father God, help me to love as you have loved me. Alien I was to you, but you still loved me. Rebel as I was, you loved me still. Help me to love others with no conditions. So that I would be able to forgive; so that I would be able to be a slave to them selflessly. You said you have come not to be served. But to serve. Let servitude be my word too. Selflessly denying my own self, my own ambitions and desires and uphold others desires fully. Lord let there be not even an iota of self creeping in. Like John the Baptist, let him increase and I decrease. May the other person increase.  No jealousy, no envy, only love. Considering the other person, ...
1 comment
Read more

Merry Christmas

Rom:15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. The first message of Christmas is peace on earth and good will to all men. The song that angels sang is about joy that comes to the world. Glad tidings to all men is not because it is a festive of gifts and sharing. Not because it is a time of homecoming. It is because of the abounding hope that the God of hope gives. Man who is destined to be in that rut of selfishness and pride and sin, now has a hope, because the selfless God became one of us to rescue us from that pattern. Mankind has hope. You have hope. The manager is meaningful because of the cross. The cross is the reason for the manger. The cross is the ultimate gift you can get. Cross is not a symbol of pain, ridicule, shame and bloodshed. Cross is a symbol of hope and joy. Christmas is probably the best season of the year. But remember, it is meaningless if the cross is n...
1 comment
Read more

Let it be....

Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded? 1 Cor:6:7 Not that you would be wronged or defrauded. But it doesn't matter when you are wronged. Let it be. Let you be wronged. Let yourself be snatched from. Let yourself be misunderstood. Let you be blamed wrong. When you are affected, when it happens to you, that is self being dented. When others cheat you, if you are hurt then that is ego. You think, people think of you what you are actually not, why do you get affected. What does it cost you if others have a wrong opinion about you?  Where is the attitude of Christ? Who was fully misunderstood, fully blamed wrongly.  If I am sure of my identity in Christ i would never feel bad. He never misunderstands me. He never judges me. He knows me in and out. It is only His opinion that matters. Then let others wrong me. Christ took the freedom to let me go through this. Image credit: https://daily.wordreference.com/2025/07/17/intermediate-word-of-the-day-snatch/
Post a Comment
Read more

Immorality rebuked

1 Cor:5:1-5 This is not something to be done away with. It is rebuked by Paul and he promises to deal with it the moment he comes. It is to be taken seriously. Well I don't commit such atrocities in my life. I am pure. If any one looks at a woman with lustful eyes, says Jesus in Matt:5:28, he has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  Be it offline, or online. Or on the Billboards or posters or in reality. Be it in your fantasy or in actual world. God defines it as adultery. Period. It is something that has to be dealt seriously and drastically. It is not to be pushed under the carpet. Paul says, such man, he has to be handed over to satan, so his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord. Jesus, May my eyes be pure And my heart be set apart For you my only husband. Image credit: https://www.istockphoto.com/search/2/image-film?phrase=boy+computer+night&tracked_gsrp_landing=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.istockphoto.com%2Fphotos%2Fboy-computer-night
1 comment
Read more