You know the Christmas story already right? Angels appearing and sayng, ādo not be afraidā. A really long journey involving a heavily pregnant woman. The lack of hotel rooms and then Jesus being born and laid in a manger. The shepherds and wise men following a star and finding Jesus. So, as the nights start getting colder and longer, you may be thinking that you need a rest, rather than hearing that same familiar story all over again?
We can know a lot about Jesus and the Christmas story. Kind of like social media ā you can follow a load of people and know a lot about them, but do we really know them? It can be the same with our faith – do we really know Jesus?
Image: Boy looking out over a city in Egypt – illustrative image – this isn’t Adel.
Adel is 10 and he lives in Egypt. Heās grown up knowing his family are called āChristiansā. Heās learnt the Lordās prayer, goes to church at Christmas and is treated differently because of his faith. But he didnāt really understanding what being a Christian means. Adel knew about Jesus, but didnāt actually know Him.
From a young age Adel was forced to start working at a rubbish filtration workshop. If he didnāt bring home enough money at the end of the day, his dad would beat him.
Meanwhile, at his job, Adel was humiliated by his boss and teammates: he says he was paid less than his Muslim co-workers, and they would make fun of him and call him ācrazyā because he was known as a Christian. Remember, heās only 10. Thatās a lot to deal with.
Adel was understandably unhappy. He heard about a childrenās group that was meeting during his break time and decided to go. Here, for the first time, Adel heard about a God that had created him and loved him. One of the most important topics he learnt about was āGod as a fatherā. This was massive for Adel, as his idea of God had been distorted because of his own experience with his father.
A new chapter opened in Adelās life. āKnowing God makes me feel happy.ā Adel says: āI know I have a Father in heaven that I can always talk to. Thatās amazing.ā
Adel changed. Before he knew about God. Now he knowās God. He knows he has a loving Heavenly Father, and amazing truth, especially if our earthly dads arenāt what we hoped they would be.
So here’s the question: Are we so familiar with the story of Christmas that we forget how amazing it is to get to know God? For Adel knowing there is a God he can always speak to has changed how he sees himself and his life. For us, choosing to get to know Jesus could be the best possible way to celebrate Christmas this year.
āNo one has ever seen God,āÆbut the one and only Son, who is himself God andāÆis in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.ā
John 1:18
As you hear or watch the Christmas story this year, we are praying you will see and know Jesus more.
As we start looking forward to Christmas, could you send hope to young Christians facing persecution?
1. Write a message of hope to a few different young people and let them know that youāre praying for them.
2. Lose something from your Christmas list, and ask for a donation to Open Doors instead…
We support people who are beaten, tortured,
imprisoned, falsely accused, and hated simply for following Jesus.