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Home is a word that generates love, security, comfort, and is often equated with family. A home may exist in a mansion or in a shanty. The physical appearance of a dwelling is of no importance. What matters is the ambiance it radiates. Psalm 84:3 expresses the value of having a home: "Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young— a place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God."
With Christmas just around the corner, the desire of coming home heightens, especially for those who are alone, abandoned, destitute, and friendless. One of the most pathetic sights is to see a person forsaken and forlorn on a Christmas night, while the rest of humanity are happily celebrating the holidays with family and friends. Realize that Jesus Christ came to the world on that divine night to gather the lost and bring them home to His Father: "In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost." (Matthew 18:14) Therefore, true Christians should go out of their way to seek the lost and bring them home, especially on Christmas.
There are ways of transforming a home into a true Christian home for Christmas. The inital step is the willingness of a family to open their door to the homeless, using Jesus as the model. Luke 19:10 clearly states, "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
Invite anyone you know who might be by themselves on Christmas. That person can be a neighbor, a relative, a friend you have not seen for a long time or someone who lives in a nursing home and has been forgotten by their family. You may even visit a sick person or a prisoner, but don't forget to bring along that Christmas dinner. Matthew 25:36 reminds us of this Christian duty: "I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me."
Fill your home with the fragrance of Christ. Let everyone who visits you feel the presence of God. The lovely colors of the Christmas lights and all the magnificent Christmas decorations are no substitutes for a radiant heart. Galatians 5: 21-23 describes the aroma of the Spirit: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
Reconcile with anyone you have not been in good terms. Christmas is a miraculous time of the year for forgiving. Forgiveness welcomes back home relationships that have gone astray because of pride. Colossians 3:13 says, "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."
Making your home a true Christian home for Christmas teaches the family members a precious lesson about righteousness which they will pass on to the next generation. It is indeed a priceless legacy. This is the promise of God in Psalm 118:20: "This is the gate of the LORD through which the righteous may enter."
May every home be a true Christian home this Christmas and always. The central theme of Christmas is Christ; the central message of Christ is love: "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:12-13)
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
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