Celebrating The Birth of Jesus with sensitive hearts

It's a few days before Christmas, and Christians worldwide are celebrating the most significant birth in history: the miraculous birth of the Messiah, Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the Son of God. This Christmas is different; our hearts are heavy, sensitive, emotional, and filled with love and compassion for everyone who is going through these difficult times, particularly Jewish people around the world, and for all Israelis who have suffered such heartbreaking loss and trauma, and we continue to pray for all hostages to be reunited with their loved ones and families.

We speak healing into the lives of the Israeli people and all the innocent Gaza Palestinians whose lives have been impacted by their own people. We reach out to them with loving prayers and compassion. I support the leaders of Israel and stand by Jewish people, God's Chosen ones. Our Heavenly Father, "Abba" examines our hearts and holds our tears as precious, and each tear fallen in love is acknowledged by Him. What breaks His heart breaks mine. What breaks your heart, breaks mine.

Psalm 56:8-10 (NKJV)

You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book? When I cry out to You, Then my enemies will turn back; this I know because God is for me.

As Biblical prophecy unravels layers of truth foretold in Eschatology, more and more people are beginning to "see" Jesus Christ of Nazareth as the true light of the world and the Son of God. This Christmas, I don't think that I've experienced such appreciation and gratitude to be called His own.

I'm not sure if other Christians in South Africa are experiencing the same reality of how precarious and fragile all our lives are as we experience and witness the worst of evil and darkness in a world where love is growing cold. I'm not sure how anyone cannot be moved by the atrocities that were unleashed upon Israel and God's people, along with blatant prejudice and appalling antisemitism taking place in other countries by countrymen and leaders alike.

For me, it's intensely personal because the heart of our Heavenly Father was first revealed to me in Scripture when He expressed His love for Israel, also referred to as His church, and after all, we as Christians are His church, His beloved bride. The Holy Spirit brings the Word of God alive, and when God speaks of Israel and His people, you can experience God as the perfect Father as He speaks directly to you.

Jeremiah 31:3 -5 (NKJV)

... Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with loving-kindness I have drawn you. Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt, O virgin of Israel! You shall again be adorned with your tambourines, and shall go forth in the dances of those who rejoice.

Movies made and books written about imagining yourself at the crucifixion of Christ, and how you would have reacted, who would you reflect as you read about the crowds, His disciples, Mary Magdalene and Jesus' mother... It's the same now for Israel and the Jewish people worldwide. It's not about only having a voice if you're a so-called "influencer" or how many people like your social media posts. It's about how God sees you and what He thinks of you. This is what courage is about: standing out from the crowd. After all, John the Baptist, the cousin of our Lord Jesus, has been described in Matthew 3:1–4 as the "voice of one crying in the wilderness."

To have compassion and to intercede in prayer for Israel and the Jews is not about how precious the land is or that there is a promise of blessings; for me, it's so much more than this. It's about our relationship with the Lord, and the depth of this is reflected in our hearts and lives in Christ. Do we really live with wonder and appreciation for what it means to be a child of God? Our Heavenly Father has lavished us with His grace, mercy, and love through His only Son, Emmanuel, "God with us." He is the ultimate and only perfect sacrifice in order to restore our relationship with our Creator and loving Father in Heaven.

We celebrate the Lord Jesus Christ's birth, and at the same time we experience the labor pains, also referred to as sorrows, in Mark 13:5–9. Jesus warns us:

Take heed that no-one deceives you ... For many will come in My name, saying "I am He, and will deceive many. But when you hear of wars, and rumours of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.

Praise the Lord that we have the supernatural peace of Christ that should be illuminating our hearts in love for one another. Wishing you all a precious time with family and friends as we celebrate the birth of Lord Jesus.

Written by Nikki Otto - Running The Race