Hello, dear friends, and welcome back to A Word from the Vine. I'm Pastor Loren Christensen, and I'm so glad you've joined me for this final episode in our series, "Living the Christmas Truth Every Day." Over the past few episodes, we've explored the continuous celebration of Christmas, growing in faith and wisdom, and embracing the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus. Today, we'll bring it all together by discussing how we can live the Christmas truth daily.
Living the Christmas truth every day means applying Jesus' teachings to our lives. In Matthew 22:37-40, Jesus commands us to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. This love is expressed through kindness, forgiveness, and service.
Imagine the impact we can have if we truly live out these commandments every day. When we love God with all our heart, we prioritize our relationship with Him. We seek His guidance in all that we do, and we strive to live in a way that honors Him. This love for God transforms our hearts and minds, shaping our actions and attitudes.
Loving our neighbors means showing kindness and compassion to those around us. It means being patient and understanding, even when it's difficult. It means reaching out to those in need and offering a helping hand. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus teaches us that our neighbor is anyone who is in need, and we are called to show mercy and compassion to them.
Forgiveness is another essential aspect of living the Christmas truth. In Matthew 6:14-15, Jesus says, "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." Forgiveness is not always easy, but it is essential for our spiritual well-being and our relationships with others. When we forgive, we release the burden of anger and resentment, and we open our hearts to healing and reconciliation.
Daily prayer and reflection keep us connected to God. Philippians 4:6-7 encourages us to bring our worries and hopes to God, experiencing His peace. Through prayer, we can bring our worries, our hopes, and our needs before God, and we can experience His peace and presence in our lives.
In addition to personal prayer, we can also pray for others. Intercessory prayer is a way to lift up the needs of our family, friends, and community before God. It is an act of love and compassion, and it can make a powerful difference in the lives of those we pray for.
Living the Christmas truth also means being a witness to the hope and joy that we have in Christ. In 1 Peter 3:15, Peter writes, "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." We are called to share the good news of Jesus with others, to be ready to explain the hope that we have, and to do so with gentleness and respect.
As we reflect on how to live the Christmas truth daily, let's remember that it is about more than just our actions. It is about our hearts and our attitudes. It is about letting the love and teachings of Jesus transform us from the inside out.
Living the Christmas truth means embodying the values and teachings of Jesus in our daily lives. It means being a light in the darkness, a source of hope and love in a world that often feels hopeless and unloving. It means letting the truth of Jesus' birth, life, death, and resurrection shape our actions, our attitudes, and our relationships.
We can reflect Jesus' love through acts of kindness and service. Whether it's helping a neighbor in need, volunteering at a local charity, or simply offering a listening ear to someone who is hurting, we can make a difference in the lives of others by living out the love of Christ. In Matthew 25:40, Jesus says, "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." When we serve others, we are serving Christ Himself.
Thank you for joining me today on A Word from the Vine. I hope this series on "Living the Christmas Truth Every Day" has been meaningful for you. Let's close with a prayer.
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Help us to live out the Christmas truth every day, carrying the light of Christ with us wherever we go. Fill us with Your love, wisdom, and compassion, and guide us in all that we do. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
As we conclude this short series, I encourage each of you to take the message of Christmas with you every day. Let the truth of Jesus' birth, life, death, and resurrection shape your life and your faith. Live out His teachings, show His love to others, and seek to grow in wisdom and understanding. May the light of Christ shine brightly in your life, bringing hope and joy to all you encounter. God bless you, and thank you for being a part of A Word from the Vine.
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