Greetings in the name of our Lord, the Prince of Peace.

Every year our company has a Christmas party and every year I will be asked to share my reflection for the season. I remember sharing in 2004 about the “True Reason for Celebrating Christmas”; that it is not about the presents, Santa, holidays …etc, but it is about the birth of Jesus, it is all about Him.

In 2005, I shocked everyone by starting in the very beginning of the message that it is all about us. They were quite shock since it was only a year ago that I said that it is all about Him. I quickly explained that we are the reason why Christ have to come, lived, died and risen again. If we are not sinners that need redemption, Christ would not need to come, so we are the reason for Christmas. And because of the obedience of Christ unto death, we believed and the ultimate glory goes back to God. So it is still all about Him.

Last year, I shared on 4 small words “Of, And, With and In” an idea I received from North Point Community Church. About how in the beginning we are made in the image Of God. We have perfect communion with God. However, when sins entered the world, we became separated with God so much so that even Moses, the friend of God, cannot see God face to face but just the back of God passing by. It became God And us. At Christmas about 2000 years ago, Christ arrived in our world through Emmanuel, which is God With us. After living among us, Christ was crucified for us, is risen from the dead and we now have His Spirit living In us, “Christ in us, the Hope of glory.”

This year, I shared in greater details about how having Christ in us and who we are in Christ has helped me throughout the year. Before this message, I have been getting up very early around 4 am each day. During that time, the Lord would reveal the numerous situations where He was always with me and brought truth to situations where I lack knowledge. Then He went on to reveal how He has protected and kept me out of harm’s way. I saw Him continually with me. He also showed the Advocate He has always been; standing up and defending me. I came out of all these revelations refreshes and loved. I am reminded of Psalm 50:15 “Trust me in your times of trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.”

This year in Indonesia, because of the various holidays all starting from December 20, many people will be taking from 6 days to 13 days off during this festive season. I pray that we will all be able to “Enter into His Rest and the Blessings of His Presence.” I pray Psalm 23:2-3 into our lives “He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters. He refreshes and restores my soul.”

Wishing you a Blessed Christmas and a restful, refreshing and restoring New Year.

In Him who is in us, the hope of glory,

Suparno A.