Christmas Living 365

Let’s take a step back in time and recall the first Christmas etched in the recesses of our memories. The excitement of witnessing the preparation of delicacies, begging to wipe the cake batter pan with our fingers, please, hearing the rustling of wrapping paper, and the distinct smell of the ham baking in the oven. Waiting with great expectation for the break of dawn when, miraculously, gifts would appear under a homemade dyed-green fir tree; after all, we were in the Caribbean. At the age of three or four, I could not have known then that all households were not “created equal.”

In my present experience, when the gentle glow of Christmas lights fills our home and the melodies of the season lift our hearts, yes, and the ham is baking in the oven, we’re reminded that Christmas is much more than a holiday. It’s the celebration of Jesus, God’s indescribable gift to us (2 Corinthians 9:15). The spirit of Christmas is one of awe, humility, and overflowing joy, rooted in the miracle of Christ’s birth and God’s deep love for humanity.

Set to timeless music, Handel’s Messiah beautifully gives voice to this spirit. When we hear the soaring Hallelujah Chorus proclaiming, “For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth,” inspired by Revelation 19:6, our hearts can’t help but rejoice. The message woven throughout Messiah is straight from Scripture: Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us (Matthew 1:23). He is “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

The true Christmas spirit is the praise Handel's music so beautifully expresses, worship that springs from gratitude for God’s grace. It’s the peace we feel because Christ has come, and the joy we share as we remember the angel’s announcement:
 “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10).

But Christmas is not confined to a calendar date, winter decorations, or banquets. When we embrace its spirit, we carry its message of hope, love, and praise into every day. We rejoice in the Lord who reigns, just as the “Hallelujah Chorus” declares, and let His peace guide our hearts all year.

Let the spirit of Christmas linger long after we have sung the last song. Echo Handel’s jubilant chorus not just with our voices, but with our lives, living in wonder, offering kindness, and praising God for the gift of Jesus.

Prayer:
Loving Father, thank You for the gift of Your Son and the everlasting joy He brings. May the spirit of Christmas fill our hearts year-round, so our lives may echo a hallelujah of praise to You. Amen.
 Written by Gregory Harewood