Pastor's column: Unwrapping Christmas

Joshua W. Seymour

Associate pastor

Havre Assembly of God

Christmas is a wonderful time of the year, a holiday celebrated by most of the world in one way or another. A holiday unlike any other, one that brings thoughts, ideals and life-change to those who allow it.

There are three things that I believe we experience through Christmas that are meant to be understood in life.

Love is the first life-changing ideal that is shown to us in the story of Christmas. Humanity understands, in a very deep way the idea of false love, also known as selfishness. So deep in fact is this false love that no person has ever been in need of teaching on the issue of how to love oneself more than others. It is human nature to think of ourselves first, but Christmas taught us differently. There is a movement of people in this world who would have us to believe that Christmas is not about the Christ at all but about us. We do believe Jesus came for us, but He came to love us and teach us to love others.

Christmas is about a new beginning, focused not on the gift received but the one who gives. As we look around during this time of year it is easy to see the focus of Christmas. It has been understood as what we receive and not who gave.

The second important element shown to us through Christmas is forgiveness. In the most quoted scripture in the Bible — John 3:16 — we are shown the heart of Christmas, “For God so loved … that He gave.” Human nature does not understand this concept. Forgiveness is not the response of the wronged, but somehow when we have wronged someone we recognize a need to rewind, do-over, or have a second chance. Jesus came not to point fingers but to offer something that we ourselves had no capacity to give, forgiveness. For it was known even in Jesus’ time that only God could forgive sins, Luke 5:21.

It makes sense then that the last life-changing element would be hope. Hope is an interesting concept. According to dictionary.com, hope is “a person or thing in which expectations are centered.” What is it that made the birth of Jesus so magnificent? Hope!

You see, we understand that the birth of Jesus was not the end of the story but the beginning. He would live a perfect life, die a death as a criminal having never been one, and rise from the dead to give something beautiful and majestic, something to center our expectations on!

If God loves us, forgives us and offers to us a life filled with hope of a place with love, forgiveness and hope in abundance, why is it so many would rather leave Christmas unwrapped? What is there that gives us more hope than Christmas unwrapped? I challenge you as you unwrap gifts and give gifts to be unwrapped, do not let Christmas be left unwrapped this Christmas season. Unwrap it and let it change your life!