The Christmas season often captivates us with its superficial wonders—exchanging presents, festive gatherings, and decorating our spaces. In this new Christmas reflection, Jonathan warns that these things can sometimes overshadow the reason for the Advent season, preventing us from focusing on the profound meaning of Christmas—Emmanuel, God with us.
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[00:00:00] Hello and welcome to Candid, where we never settle for less than the truth.
[00:00:10] I'm your host, Jonathan Youssef.
[00:00:11] Each week we'll tackle tough issues, answer hard questions, and take a candid look at
[00:00:17] the Christian faith.
[00:00:20] It's easy to get caught up in the superficial wonders of the Christmas season, gifts, parties,
[00:00:26] decorating, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to bear witness about the light that all might believe through him.
[00:01:42] He was not the light, but came to bear we have all received grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
[00:03:01] No one has ever seen God, the only God who is at the Father's side. earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death in order to present you holy and blameless and above
[00:04:20] reproach before him.
[00:04:22] If indeed you continue in the faith,asses and sins, in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air of works so that no one may boast, for we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Colossians chapter 3 verses 1 through 17 says, If that you have put off the old self with its practices, and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave-free,
[00:08:20] but Christ is all and in all. Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved,
[00:09:24] Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. What did Jesus come to give you?
[00:09:28] In light of the abundant and eternal life secured for you in Christ, how does God call
[00:09:33] you to live?
[00:09:35] Ask the Lord to show you how He would have you practically serve in this Christmas,
[00:09:40] say, leading you to minister with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a
[00:11:02] dream saying, Joseph, son of David, do not this season, such as reading through an Advent study together, gathering to sing hymns or inviting them to church services. As you reflect on, rejoice in and invite others to experience