ICS Daily Devotions
Go and Proclaim the Good News!
Every year, what comes to our mind when Christmas is around the corner? Christmas presents, parties, shopping, traveling or just in time for reflection before we enter into the new year? It should really be about the birth of Christ. We should also present hope, love and faith to the world. We should remind ourselves what’s important to God as we take time to prepare for Christmas. How about remembering what God wants for Christmas besides thinking about what Christmas is to us? God is more concerned about the individuals that need to be saved.
I would like to encourage us to remember the character of God in the area of faithfulness. This is one important aspect of the character of God that we should anchor our faith in especially during times like these. We should also give thanks for all that He has done for us!
Matthew 1:1,18,23-25 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:……Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit… .. “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.
Go and proclaim the good news!
Matthew 1:21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
The best gift that we can give anyone at Christmas is to introduce them to Immanuel, God with us and establish the relationship with Jesus Christ. I believe this is how the Lord Jesus would want us to celebrate Christmas. It is a proclamation that Jesus was born for this purpose which is to save the lost.
ICS (Shanghai) does not have Christmas services though it is good to have one. We have Christmas banquets organized prior to church members leaving for their home countries to celebrate Christmas or going on holidays when the international schools close for winter. During these banquets, many people have accepted their salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
It is wonderful to remember how God honored the Abrahamic covenant through the genealogy of Jesus Christ during the period of Advent. It is comforting to know that Immanuel, God is with us. We are to also remember to share the Gospel with our relatives, friends and colleagues because this is the very purpose that Jesus came.
Sermon Series: Christmas 2019
