Indeed, Christmas is a joyous occasion, with all the merry-making, feasting and gifts giving. But I guess Ps Kai Ming's sermon last Sun was also appropriate in the light of all these festivities. The very first Christmas wasn't all that happy for the people involved i.e. Mary, Joseph and all the parents whose little boys were killed on Herod's orders.
The birth of Christ was a miracle since He was born of a virgin, but it wasn't easy for Mary and Joseph, and perhaps their families too. And he was born as a baby, just like any other baby. He didn't look extraordinary or anything. And it made me think. If the Son of God could be subjected to all these (born in a manger, doubts surrounding his birth, rejection by his own people, and finally the crucifixion), who am I to ask for more? God Himself came down as an ordinary man, born the same way as any one of us, and went through the same pain and suffering. How could I forget? How could I ever doubt His love for me? How could I question His plans for my life?
No matter where I look, true satisfaction can only be found in Him alone. Not in material possessions. We live in a world obsessed with external beauty, and I guess christians are no exception either. Many a times, I wished I was prettier, slimmer, more attractive etc. Does this mean I'm insecure? Perhaps, but I also know that many women feel this way too, even the pretty ones. Why do we feel this way? When will it ever be enough? Why do we rather believe in the lies of the devil rather than the word of God?
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Proverbs 31:30
For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.
Ecclesiastes 3:11
To all my female readers, whatever we are struck with doubts on our own beauty, remember that we are all beautiful because we are made in the image of God.
To the male readers, may God help you to look beyond the surface.
