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For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.”

—Colossians 1:19–20 (NLT)

As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, it is important to remember that this season is not only about lights, gifts, and celebration—it is also about spiritual awareness. The apostle Peter gently reminds us,

“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour”

1 Peter 5:8 NLT

His words are not meant to frighten us, but to encourage us to remain watchful, prayerful, and grounded in Christ, even during times of joy and festivity.

Christmas is a season overflowing with generosity, hope, and gladness. It is a time when families gather, when kindness is shared, and when hearts are lifted by the promise of Emmanuel—God with us. Yet, woven into this season is also a reminder that the coming of Christ was necessary because of a broken world. From the very beginning, humanity has faced spiritual struggles, and the birth of Jesus was God’s answer to those struggles. His arrival was not only a gift of joy but also the beginning of victory over sin and darkness.

That victory has already been won. Jesus, through His life, death, and resurrection, conquered sin and death once and for all. He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice, making reconciliation with God possible for every person who believes. When we see the color red at Christmas—whether in decorations, ribbons, or even Santa’s suit—it can remind us of something far deeper. Red is the color of Christmas because it points to the blood of Christ, shed in love, so that eternal life could be offered freely to all.

Even though the enemy of our souls has been defeated, he still resists surrender. We see evidence of this resistance in the world around us—in confusion, division, and the rejection of God’s truth. This ongoing struggle is not new; it stretches back to the earliest pages of Scripture. After Adam and Eve fell into temptation, God spoke to the serpent:

“And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel”

Genesis 3:15 NLT

From that moment, the promise of a Saviour was set in motion, and the cradle in Bethlehem was always pointing toward the cross at Calvary.

The Incarnation—the Word becoming flesh—was not simply a beautiful story of God entering the world. It was the necessary step toward atonement. The birth of Jesus carried within it the purpose of His death, and His death carried within it the promise of resurrection. This is the heart of the Christian faith: the contrast between light and darkness, good and evil, truth and deception. Christmas is not only about the manger; it is about the mission that began there.

And here is something gentle yet profound to reflect on this season: peace often comes through struggle. The conflicts we face as believers are not always personal—they are often the result of Christ’s light shining into places where darkness resists exposure. Some hearts prefer to remain hidden, and when they encounter the brightness of God’s truth, it can stir discomfort. That discomfort sometimes spills over into opposition toward those who walk in the light.

Yet we need not be discouraged. We can trust that God is at work even in the midst of conflict. His ultimate plan is reconciliation, unity, and peace. Our role is not to fight with anger but to stand firm in love, to pray faithfully, and to keep pointing others toward Christ. We pray that those who resist the light will one day pause, reflect on their souls, and consider the claims of Jesus. And when they do, we hope they will surrender their lives to Him.

What greater gift could Christmas bring than a heart turned toward the Lord? Beyond the presents under the tree, beyond the carols and gatherings, the most precious gift is the transformation of a life through the love of Christ. That is the true joy of Christmas, and it is a joy that lasts forever.