Merry Christmas everybody! It’s just one more week to the most wonderful time of the year and I’m sure we’re all looking forward to it. December has been a good month for me so far. I’ve been catching up with friends and family, and of course I get to preach all month long! I trust you’ve all been enjoying this sermon series because I certainly have.
But amidst all the joy and holly, let’s take some time to slow down and think about this past year. This is something important that I think we should do as we come to the end of the year. As we do this, perhaps there are two questions we should ask ourselves.
1. How has this past year been?
Was 2016 a good year, or was it a bad year? Did something significant take place? The truth is as human beings we tend to be quite forgetful. So, it’s always important to reflect and remember what has happened throughout the year. And as we ask ourselves this question, it’s important to be honest about it.
Sometimes our attitude to life is just like Gold 90.5FM’s old slogan - “Hear only the good stuff”. The truth is all sorts of things have happened to us in the past year, some good and some bad. Whatever the case, these experiences collectively made the year what it was, and they’ve certainly caused us to change in various ways. So, do take some time to ask yourself this question. But beyond that, there’s a second question.
2. What are you thankful for?
Now this could probably be a much harder question. Perhaps this past year has just been a train wreck for you. But are you willing and are you able to choose to be thankful still? Not just thankful for the good things, but even the bad?
I’ll always remember what Job said to his wife - “Shall we accept the good from God and not trouble?” This has got to be one of the most amazing lines I’ve read in the Bible ever. Like I said earlier, let’s not just choose only the good stuff. Let’s choose to be thankful regardless of what’s happened. Sure, it’s not easy. But since when has anything worth doing been easy? But I can assure you, when we learn to live with thankfulness in our hearts, then we are most ready to prevent bitterness from eating at our hearts. Like Nick Vujicic says,
“In life you have a choice: Bitter, or better? Choose better, forget bitter.”
So, as we approach Christmas, how about choosing thankfulness? Truly, Christmas is about joy and thanksgiving. But how can we celebrate Christ Jesus this season if we’ve allowed our hearts to be filled with unhappiness, bitterness, or regret? Make it a point to spend some time asking yourselves these two questions. And I pray that as you do, God will give you the strength and courage to choose thankfulness through it all.
- Deputy Senior Pastor Daniel Khong