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What's Christmas Want You For?

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I received my first Christmas gift, and it was a white shirt after four days of getting baptized at a church. When I was baptized and accepted Jesus as God and Savior, it left me feeling amazing, and just made the best decision to follow Jesus and become a Christian.  This is my fourth time celebrating Christmas, but I don't routinely receive the gift and it doesn't matter because I rejoice for the great joy. 

We know Christians celebrate Christmas on December 25th but the Orthodox celebrate Christmas on January 8th, interestingly, the Advents don't celebrate Christmas. So, what is supposed to celebrate on December 25th? No, there is no wrong! Because all days are good days in God's eyes and God made 365 days considered good days. Jesus is coming to the world for great joy on whichever date.

Then, what gift do you want?

The actual, you want to get closer to Him. I reflected back on my journey in 2022 and it was surprising because I joined the church community and became more active than I hadn't expected before. I had a tough journey with converting, but so far, I am proud to be who am. Being a Christian, makes me learn deeper and more about Christianity, then, have a deeper conversation with my friends and pastors. Talking the denominations, theology, history, and churches. Like, I had to reflect back "Why I am a Christian?". I won't do it if I only do pray, go to a church every Sunday, and read the Bible, which is basic stuff, but I want more, for real. More criticism, like, why I have to pray, why I have to read the Bible, why I have to believe the Holy Spirit, why I have to go to a church, why I have to serve Christ, etc. Praise God, I have my best friends and pastors who willingness in having a deeper discussion with me. They made me open something new and things to be needed for researching. This is my gift. 

I know what you want for a gift, maybe you want to move abroad to begin a new life, lulus skripsi (graduate the bachelor's thesis), get a job, have a new couple, and whatever you want, that all are okay! Because you should deserve all of it. But, back on, you have Jesus, you need Him now. Jesus is your gift since He has been faithful to you, and He wants to come to your home. Knock! Knock! A door opens for you. He never closes the door and always opens the door whatever you need to come. The greatest gift that He has given to you is crucifixion. We are going to Luke 22, 23, and 24. We are going to analyze how scarification He made for you: healing the ear's soldier in Luke 22: 50-52, forgiving in Luke 23: 34, and resurrection in Luke 24: 1-12. This Jesus' journey has proved that He is God, and He appears to His disciples as a win over suffering, punishment, and hatred. Jesus appears as a gift. He died on the cross, then He has risen, what images do you do? Yeah, because this is a gift He made for you, of recognizing and trusting Jesus Christ. Be loyal to Him and suffer with Him. 

We see the church rejection everywhere, maybe it is not a gift as you thought but you need to see other views and see how His generous. He is faithful to you because He has plans not to harm and all the plans are gifts, kind of more special and you would consider the best gift and the irreplaceable. Jesus has suffered and paid for the victory. You cannot worship God at a church because of the church's rejection, but you win because you are still faithful to God, and this is victory. This is Christmas and great joy. You still be able to pray and worship God everywhere because this is victory, and you are a church that He has made for you. This, again, Christmas and great joy, as this is again, a gift. 

Win and celebrate Christmas because you are, and you need Him. 

This is for your gift. 

Don't run away and back faithful to God.

Obey, suffer, be faithful, and rejoice. 

As you need to be who is yourself and you need Him, you have Jesus, already. This is a gift. 

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