by Bro. Philip Largas
Reading for the day: Matthew 9:35-38
When you hear the chimes of the xylophone softly playing and a warm inviting feminine voice singing “I don’t want a lot for Christmas, there’s just one thing I need” on the radio in November, that signals the start of Christmas music dominating the airwaves. What mortal can escape Mariah Carey’s 1994 hit single once it is unchained from the depths of the musical abyss every Christmas season?
It’s hard to imagine Christmas without its music. Songs like Jingle Bells, Feliz Navidad, Frosty the Snowman, and It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas are among a great number of songs that make us think of Christmas.
More importantly, timeless classics of the likes of Oh Holy Night, Joy to the World,Tell It On The Mountain, and Oh Come All Ye Faithful all point to the rightful celebrant of this season.
On December 7, Elder Aries wrote a profound devotional related to one of his Christmas favourites so today I will take the liberty to do the same.
And this is a song that never fails to pull the heartstrings and for all the right reasons;
“Grown Up Christmas List” is a song that makes my eyes water up. I will refuse to say it makes me cry although it makes sweat drip down my eyeballs.
This beautifully written song is from the perspective of a person who sees the sufferings of people over loss, pain, and loneliness with the selfless desire not for material gifts but the simple healing of broken people.
As children, gifts of toys and gadgets made us happy. As we mature and grow older we realize that “packages and bows can never heal the hurting human soul”. That’s what we really want for Christmas.
Let’s put ourselves in the position of the narrator of the song: What is our grown up Christmas list?
As believers, we are called to be like Christ in the way He sees the world. In Matthew 9:35-38 Jesus saw the world in its desperate state. He saw people’s lives torn apart. He saw the oppression caused by wars waged on because of the self interests of nations. He saw hearts that have been broken, people who are lonesome and victims of injustice. He saw a world broken by sin. Christ himself is the very key to unlock the chains that snare those very people.
He saw a world broken by sin. Christ himself is the very key to unlock the chains that snare those very people.
Those that Christ sent have also been called to see what Jesus saw, the need for the Gospel of Christ to be preached. More than five decades ago, God gave Apostle Arsenio Tan Ferriol the vision of this gospel to be proclaimed to the whole world. He responded in obedience because he, too, was able to see the need for man. Years later, his own son Apostle Jonathan S. Ferriol followed in his father’s footsteps and even innovated a global exploit, the Home Free crusade which brought the gospel of hope on a global scale!
Through the preaching of the gospel, many people’s grown up christmas list have been checked off. Addictions have been overcome, families restored, illnesses healed.
And not only are they concerned about the spiritual needs of others; both our late Apostle and our newly appointed Apostle have spearheaded Good Samaritan ministries where the church provides relief to those who have been victimized by natural disasters. The church is all about taking action to help those in need!
Being members of the church, whether or not we are seasoned or new believers, we should all be seeking to share the gospel because it is the power of God that brings salvation to anyone who believes! (Romans 1:16)
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile." Romans 1:16
We also ought to help those who are in need rather than just relying on sentiments! (James 2:16)
"If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?" James 2:16 This Season of Joyful Service is an excellent opportunity to spread this message for all we meet through our carols as well as fundraise to fund the great work of preaching the gospel! Let us help Christ fulfill the grown up Christmas list of people in need of the gospel!
Reflection: What’s in your grown up Christmas list?
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