HOPE in Action
       Many years ago, we participated in a book study of The Five Love Languages in our Sunday School class. I discovered my love language was acts of service. It’s my preferred way of showing and receiving love. I especially like to do things for people. Christmas reminds us that HOPE is not a passive concept but an active force. It is love in motion, often including acts of service, reaching out to a broken world with the promise of redemption and renewal.
HOPE is Born
       As we gather to celebrate the birth of Christ, we are reminded that Christmas is not just about the arrival of a baby in a manger but the dawning of HOPE for all humanity. In the humble surroundings of Bethlehem, HOPE was born in the form of God's ultimate expression of love.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life"Â
John 3:16
      This familiar verse encapsulates the essence of Christmas – a love so profound that it bridged the gap between heaven and earth. The birth of Jesus was the fulfillment of God's promise, a beacon of HOPE in a world shrouded in darkness.
Living in HOPE
        As we celebrate the birth of Christ, let us remember that we are called to be bearers of this HOPE. The apostle Peter encourages us:
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy, He has given us new birth into a living HOPE through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."
1 Peter 1:3
       We are living in a world of divisiveness and a general feeling of hopelessness for many. This Christmas, may we not only receive the gift of HOPE but also share it with others. Let us embody the love that was born in a manger – a love that continues to transform lives and offer HOPE to a world in need.
       As we gather with loved ones, exchange gifts, and enjoy festive traditions, may we never lose sight of the greatest gift of all – the HOPE and love born on that first Christmas night.
Lisa Raiber
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