Weekend Thought: Christmas is nearly here - but are we ready?

Millions of letters have been written to Father Christmas, we’ve already received many cards, sent many ourselves and more than likely have forgotten to send some.

Social media is alive with good wishes. Parents are shopping until they are weary. The presents need wrapping and then there’s all the food that needs sorting - not to mention the late nights and parties.

Christmas is about all these things - it is about family, fun, friendship and festivities. But it’s also about faith.

It’s a joyous celebration of the birth of Jesus who came that we might no longer live in darkness, in fear, in loneliness or in the shadow of regret.

Christmas is about the time when the greatest gift of love was given in the birth of Jesus as the Son of God.

Even the name given to Jesus by the prophet Isaiah, the name Immanuel, means ‘God with us’.

Christmas is a stark demonstration of God’s love, not in words, but in actions.

He meets us where we are and loves us for who we are.

That demands from us a response, a response of faith.

Christmas reminds us of God’s arrival, of God’s coming to us.

Yet, he didn’t come just for a day or a week, but lived with us for a lifetime of love, tears, happiness and sorrow.

The response he expects from us is not just a day or a week thinking about him, but a lifetime walking with him as he shares our sorrows, wipes away our tears and brings peace and love into our lives.

Christmas confronts us with the choice to serve him in our lives throughout the year.

We may have everything ready for Christmas Day but are we really ready for Christ’s birthday and what that means?