Remembering The Least of These At Christmas

Have you ever read those statistics or articles about how for many people, the holiday seasons are the most depressing? Well, it is true. I am one of those people who feel lonely in the holidays. Christmas has always been the most depressing season for me, mainly because my birthday is around Christmas and I have never been fond of my birthday.

But that does not mean I don’t like to be among people. Actually it is the opposite: people feel depressed in holidays because they feel that they don’t have any meaningful relationships. That’s why it is so important that we, Christians, be generous and hospitable in those times.

Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. ~1 Peter 4:9

In the holidays my family and I are sometimes invited by relatives or friends to spend it with them, but somehow I’ve always felt the happiest when I went to my youngest uncle’s house. Even though some of those relatives and friends are Christians, but there is something about my youngest uncle and his wife that always made me feel right in the center of God’s will. They are so godly, loving, generous, and holy that their house truly feels like the house of God—where God would be pleased to dwell in. It is not about having Bibles around, or playing Christian songs (even though they do have these things) but it is about knowing that when you go to their house you will not be encouraged or exposed to sin, even common sins such as gossip. They have somehow managed to incorporate loving God, honoring Him, serving Him, and focusing on Him in all areas of their lives.

Christmas by Fadi

Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. ~ Romans 12:13

One of my favorite things about spending time with my youngest uncle and his wife is that they show me God’s love and share His works with me, but they are never preachy or try to change me. They don’t try to make me more outgoing or wait to see the results as if I am suppose to change. They just love people and let God’s love change people, as He is changing them, according to His ways and timing.

We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. ~ 1 John 4:19-20

We, Christians, donate more money, other aids, our times, and our efforts than any other group that I know of. Interestingly, Christianity is the only religion that I know of that says no amount of good works will ever save us—that Christ alone is the bearer of our sins and mediator between us and God. Yet we do those good things abundantly, and that’s simply because we love God, and not out of fear, intimidation or waiting for paybacks. This is a true and powerful testimony of the power of love, first of God’s love for us and second of our love for Him.

We love because he first loved us. ~ 1 John 4:19

So let’s extend those good practices to hospitality this Christmas season and extend our love for our Lord and Savior to others.

The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.” ~ Leviticus 19:34

I believe immigrants, singles, single parents, divorcees, widows and orphans are more in need of feeling a sense of belonging, love, and care in the holiday seasons than others so let’s extend our arms to them but most importantly let’s give them a glimpse of the Father’s love. Remembering that our Lord did not have a house while He was doing His Father’s work but usually was a guest at other’s houses.