这个最喜庆的月份又来了。十二月。基督徒和非基督徒都一样庆祝。 “圣诞节”是家庭聚会，交换礼物，享用美味食物和装饰房屋等形式的庆祝活动的理由和名称。到处都是五颜六色的装饰品，圣诞树上闪闪发光的灯装饰着，温热的饼干在闪亮的罐子里诱人，甚至我们的手机都充满了圣诞颂歌。如果我们能够像过去几年那样与亲人相聚，我们的幸福会更加完美！
但是，作为基督徒，我们需要记住，圣诞节的意义远超过这些节日热烈。 饮用美味的食物，装饰品，与家人在一起和交换礼物很有趣；但是我们真正要庆祝的是拯救我们所有人的天父的爱。耶稣是神的儿子，被从天上降下来，像我们这样的人生活
被从天上差遣到世上，像我们 人样样式，牺牲了自己的生命来救赎我们脱离罪恶的 刑罚，以便我们可以在祂心中和天父的家中占有一席之地。这就是我们庆祝的事情。
神的国度，及其所有的意义，进入我们的生命，成为我们的祝福。
因有一婴孩为我们而生；有一子赐给我们。政权必担在他的肩头上；他名称为「奇妙策士、全能的神、永在的父、和平的君」。
(以塞亚9:6)
这节经文作为玛利亚和约瑟夫时代之前的先知以赛亚的预言写在圣经中。其中的承诺非常深远坚定，充满了对世界所需要的拯救的盼望。万王之王耶稣被差遣来拯救我们。这是我们庆祝圣诞节的最重要原因！
正如先知以赛亚所预言的那样，圣诞节的信息到今天为止一直是清晰的，并且仍然是一样的：君王来了，祂把祂的国度降到了生活在世界上的我们。实际上，耶稣自己在主祷文中再次证实了这一点，祂曾说过：“愿你的国降临，愿你的旨意行在地上如同行在天上“。 在整个历史上，都曾多次邀请人们接受和欢迎神的国度。君王拥有超过万物的能力并战胜了死亡，充满了无限的爱，因为祂已经进入了我们的生活！
也许这句话听起来太 “悬浮” 了，但是当我们说 “愿你的国降临” 时，这的确是事实，这意味着我们正在欢迎并接受神作为在祂永恒的计划中的统治和统治我们生活的君王。不幸的是，有时候，有些疑惑使我们摇动并引诱我们摆脱祂的国度，就如玛利亚的丈夫并且小耶稣的父亲约瑟夫所经历的那样。
玛丽亚很高兴听到天使加百列关于神的儿子耶稣的消息。她也非常高兴地欢迎圣婴出现在子宫中（路加福音1:46）。但是，约瑟夫有不同的想法。约瑟夫感到困惑和犹豫，甚至有时还打算取消与玛丽亚的婚约。这是很自然的，考虑到一个未婚的妇女突然怀孕，而她所怀的婴儿被称为是从天上来的神的儿子，这是多么奇怪！当然，这一切在他的心中引起了极大的怀疑。
我们不是也如此吗？我们已经从神的话语中读到或听到了许多奇妙的应许和真理，但是当它们听起来太困难或我们无法理解时，我们就会停止相信。它的形式可以多种多样。可以从严重的疾病中恢复健康，当我们的商店濒临破产时反得丰盛，或者在失业时反拥有充裕的生活，。 当我们的头脑无法理解时，我们很容易离开神国度的信心道路。
感到怀疑和不信任很容易，尤其是在困难或不可能的情况下。我们所看到的一切都是不确定的，并且不能保证成功，包括在像现今在这样不确的时候。但是，让我们记住一件事：神并没有责怪约瑟夫怀疑，神甚至说服了约瑟夫，并在考虑了要中断订婚的打算时给了约瑟夫礼物。约瑟亲身经历的正是神的这种仁慈和忍耐，才使约瑟再次踏上了祂的国度。约瑟夫返回迎接神的能力和神的主权，在他的一生中再次获得了神的国度。结果，约瑟夫的顺服故事在历史上得以记录，并为婴儿耶稣的诞生做出了贡献。耶稣是我们今天一直信奉并崇拜的君王。
在黑暗中行走的百姓看见了大光；住在死荫之地的人有光照耀他们。 你使这国民繁多，加增他们的喜乐；他们在你面前欢喜，好像收割的欢喜，像人分掳物那样的快乐。 因为他们所负的重轭和肩头上的杖，并欺压他们人的棍，你都已经折断，好像在米甸的日子一样。 战士在乱杀之间所穿戴的盔甲，并那滚在血中的衣服，都必作为可烧的，当作火柴。
(以赛亚9:2-5)
亲爱的朋友们，神将祂的国度降下在我们生命的唯一原因是因为他对我们的爱。神的爱是如此之大和强大，以至于祂不会因我们的怀疑而动摇，也不会被诱惑去违背对我们的应许。祂的爱甚至被写在圣经中，当祂进入我们的生活时，祂承诺要带我们走出黑暗，看到祂神奇的光。因此，在这次圣诞节期中，让我们回到以接受和欢迎降临在我们身上的神的国度！祂是掌管我们一生的掌权者！
It’s that time of the year again, the most celebrated season of all. Christians and non-Christians alike celebrates this month one strong reason for family gathering, gift-giving, festive eating, and excessive decorating. The halls are decked with boughs of holly, Christmas trees are lit beautifully, warm cookies are ready in glistening jars, even our phones are constantly playing Christmas songs. Oh, how everything would be perfect, if only like in the past Christmases, we can also welcome family and friends for gatherings!
However, as Christians, let us be reminded that Christmas holds a deeper meaning than all those nice things. Sure, the festive eating and decorating and family gathering and gift sharing are all fun, but what we are truly celebrating is the love of the Father given to save us all. Jesus, the Son of God, was sent down to earth to walk our path as human, sacrificed Himself to atone our sins, and ultimately securing our spots both in the Father’s heart and house. Yes, we celebrate the whole story of the Kingdom that came to us, for us.
A child has been born for us;
a son has been given to us.
The responsibility of complete dominion
will rest on his shoulders, and his name will be:
The Wonderful One!
The Extraordinary Strategist!
The Mighty God!
The Father of Eternity!
The Prince of Peace!
(Isaiah 9:6, TPT)
This verse is written in the Bible, prophesied by Isaiah, centuries before Mary and Joseph entered the scene. What a strong promise it holds, full of the hope of salvation that the world needs. Jesus, the King of complete dominion was set to come and bring salvation for us, what more reason do we need to celebrate Christmas, right?
This Christmas declares the same message as its prophecy did: The King has come, and He brought the whole Kingdom with Him. It is even re-announced in the Lord’s Prayer Jesus Himself taught, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” The invitation and declaration to agree with and to welcome the Kingdom of God has been spoken through generations. The King Himself, who rules over everything and has defeated the enemy, now showers us with unlimited love as He has come to our reality!
Now it may sound unreal, but yes, as we declare “Thy Kingdom come”, it means we really welcome His authority, handing over the government to God and submit our life to enter His eternal plan. However, the lurking doubt sometimes gets the best of us and side-tracks us from enjoying life in His Kingdom. Sadly, this even happened to Joseph, Mary’s husband, too.
While Mary was ecstatic after her encounter with the angel Gabriel and gladly agreed to carry the holy bundle of joy (Luke 1:46), Joseph’s experience was not as bright. He even considered breaking the engagement to Mary altogether. It is understandable, considering all the things he must endure, including bringing himself to believe such “impossible” plan God had set for Mary. He did go through a serious season of doubt.
Isn’t this sound familiar? We have heard, read, listened to so many promises of God, and when it sounds and seems too impossible, we too think of quitting believing. The promise of healing over an incurable disease, of fruitfulness in business on the brink of bankruptcy, of provision during a phase of being laid-off… When our mind could not find a hint of a way out, we begin to plan our way out of faith.
It is easy for us to be doubtful, or skeptical, in these situations. Nothing we can see physically is certain, and nothing in our own plan is guaranteed. Just like Joseph had a season of doubt, we may be going through a similar conflict at this very uncertain time. However, remember this: God did not dismiss Joseph’s reluctance, nor did He condemn him for being skeptical. Instead, He gave assurance and grace in his hesitancy, and that personal encounter brought Joseph back on track. He once again welcomed the Kingdom of God in his life, and as a result, his story of obedience went all the way in history as we know it and take part in it.
Those who walked in darkness
have seen a radiant light shining upon them.
They once lived in the shadows of death,
but now a glorious light has dawned!
Lord, you have multiplied the nation
and given them overwhelming joy!
They are ecstatic in your presence
and rejoice like those who bring in a great harvest
and those who divide up the spoils of victory!
For you have broken the chains
that have bound your people
and lifted off the heavy bar across their shoulders,
the rod the oppressor used against them.
You have shattered all their bondage,
just as you did when Midian’s armies were defeated.
Every boot of marching troops
and every uniform caked with blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
(Isaiah 9:2-5, TPT)
Friends, the only reason God decided to bring the whole Kingdom down to our lives is because of His love for us. It is so great that He is not intimidated by our skepticism, so powerful that not even our doubt could cancel His promise for us. It is even written in the Bible, that He promised to carry us out of darkness to see His light as He brought His presence into our lives. So as we now celebrate yet another year of Christmas, let us once again declare that His Kingdom come, and only His will be done in our lives!
