The Christmas season is often a rush of tinsel, frantic shopping, and mandatory cheer. But beneath the glittering surface, there’s a persistent, quiet longing for something steady—something that won't fade when the decorations are packed away.
This Christmas, the perfect theme isn’t found in a song or a gift. It's found in three interconnected concepts that anchor our hope: Faith, The Word, and Jesus. These aren't just theological terms; they are the foundation of a life lived in certainty, even when the world feels uncertain.
1. Faith: The Anchor in the Unseen
At its core, Faith is an internal act of conviction. The Bible defines it beautifully: "the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1).
In the context of the Nativity, this means:
Faith is Trust in a Promise: It’s believing the story of a virgin birth, an angelic host, and a rescue plan conceived before the world began. It is a decision to trust that the promises of a faithful God (Lamentations 3:22-23) are solid, even when they seem impossible.
Faith is the Root: It is the internal foundation of all our subsequent actions. Without this deep, personal trust, the rest is merely tradition or empty ritual. Our faith is sustained by the knowledge that God’s steadfast love and care for us are the definition of His own divine Faithfulness.
2. The Word: The Promise Made Visible
The abstract concept of Faith becomes real because of The Word. The Gospel of John opens with the profound statement, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:1, 14).
This is the miracle of Christmas:
The Word is God's Communication: It is how God expresses His plan, His nature, and His promises.
Jesus Is The Word Made Flesh: Jesus is the ultimate manifestation of God's promise. He is the invisible conviction (Faith) made visible, tangible, and personal. He stepped out of eternity and into a manger to show us, definitively, that God's plan is real, and His faithfulness is absolute. He is the ultimate proof that the things we hoped for are not merely wishful thinking, but solid reality.
3. The Call to Faithfulness: The Life That Responds
Once we connect the internal conviction (Faith) with the visible promise (Jesus, The Word), we are called to Faithfulness.
Faithfulness is our response to God's unwavering loyalty. It is the conscious, consistent decision to live in accordance with our belief, demonstrating our love and commitment through our actions.
The apostle James famously stated, "Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself" (James 2:17). This isn't a statement about earning a gift; it's a statement about validation.
Faithfulness is the Fruit: It is visible in our lives as the "fruit of the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22-23), which includes loyalty, patience, and goodness.
The Christmas Challenge: This Christmas, faithfulness means choosing to live the message of the manger. It means sharing the peace, joy, and hope we claim to believe in. It means prioritizing the needs of others and maintaining a steadfast commitment to Christ long after the season ends.
This Christmas, don't just celebrate the fleeting feelings of the holiday. Celebrate the perfect theme: the Faith that anchors you, The Word who became human, and the Faithfulness that defines your life in response.
This is the stable, unchanging truth we can rest in, today and all through the new year.
