I come from Africa. Crazy things happen in Africa. Africa is very different from Asia, where people are orderly, with a healthy respect for authority.

In Africa, things are a little different. Which leads me to a Christmas story.

I have a friend who lives in the nation of Zambia – right in the middle of Africa. My friend had three brothers. Her brothers were extremely naughty. They were young boys at the time of this story.

Each year, their father would march them off for the annual Christmas Eve church service. This was held in the church in the capital city, Lusaka. The church was relatively simple. It had steel chairs set out in many rows. And at the Christmas Eve service, which was always at night, every person was given a lighted candle as they walked into the church. The lights were turned off. Then everyone would sing in the candlelight.            

Well, for my friend’s naughty brothers – this was an opportunity too good to be missed. During the prayer time, they got to business. They worked out that if you hold a lighted candle under the steel chair someone is sitting on, after about two minutes the seat gets very hot. It’s a terrible thing to do. Especially to someone who is praying.

One year they did it to their sister, my friend. They crawled under her seat. They held the candle. Slowly the seat got hotter and hotter. Then, quite involuntarily, she let out a little yelp and shot up in the middle of the prayer. While every other eye was closed.

There was big trouble that night with the father when the boys got home!

Imagine if …

Obviously, it’s not the Christmas spirit to threaten property and play with fire; nor is it the Christmas spirit to hurt one’s fellow Christian.

But what if the real Light of Christmas came into our churches this Christmas? Imagine a Light that is warm and loving and, instead of burning, infuses grace and joy.

Imagine a Light that is pure and wholesome – which lights the hearts of the saints and fills them with joy inexpressible.

Imagine Christians who have an experience of the Light of the world this Christmas.

Imagine them figuratively jumping out of their seats and yelping with joy.

Imagine the Light glowing from within, pulsating through Christian lives with love and hope.

The best gift 

James 1:17 says: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.”

Christmas is the ultimate fulfilment of this verse.

Jesus Christ was God’s “gift” to the world. He was given. For God so loved the world that he “gave” His son.

Jesus Christ was the gift that was good. Not just good – but the superlative of good. He is the best gift. There cannot be a better gift. What can be better than being given a right relationship with God?

Jesus Christ is the “perfect” gift. He’s exactly what you need. There’s nothing else you need more. The thing you most need is God to restore you to Himself. He is the perfect gift because He is able to give you what you most need in a way that cannot be foiled.

Jesus Christ is “from above”. The Prince of heaven came to earth – to be Prince of the earth. Because He is from above, He can take those in Him to where He came from – above.

Jesus Christ “came down”. He came down to earth. He came to be with us. He came to us. He came as one of us. He was from above – yet He came down. This is fundamental to Christmas. Christmas is not Christmas without this.

Let there be light

Jesus Christ came “from the Father of lights”. The Father is the one true Light – and He sent His Son into the world to be the Light of the World.

Light from Light. True God from true God. Jesus came to the world to be Light to guide, Light to reveal, Light to shine, Light to warm, Light to bring hope, Light to set His church on fire.

And it is this Light of the world who says to His church: “You are the light of the world.”

Upon us He confers His own light. We are absorbed into His light – so that we can be His light and bear His light. The Light that came at Christmas to people is to be spread into the darkness by lit people.

It is one thing for the church to go through the ritual of Christmas – uninspired, looking for entertainment, burning each other with candles. It is quite another for the good and perfect gift from above to come down (again) from the Father of lights and light every Christian heart (again).

Because He came as Light at Christmas, He wants to come again to His church to light us again. And cause us to leap from our chairs once more. Giving testimony to the light that shines and the light that burns.

MORE CHRISTMAS STORIES:

10 meaningful ways to give this Christmas

7 Christmas productions to invite your friends and family to this December – for free!

Don’t miss out on the festive cheer at these upcoming Christmas carnivals

7 festive feasts that help spread Christmas light all year round