I’ve cried this morning.

I asked Jesus what He’d say today. He gave me Hosea 3. It’s that astonishing short chapter where God is asking Hosea to do something crazy, something that doesn’t seem to be like God at the first sight. But I’ll come to that later.

In the past several years Christmas has felt so much more different for me. Most of the times I’m not necessarily happier, more satisfied, or more excited than in any other days cause I’m normally happy, satisfied, and excited. And I always hope and pray to be more like that. And thank God for the new me!

There’s still one thing that saddens me on this day, or more likely in this whole period. Despite all the beautiful atmosphere, the decorations, street lights, christmasy songs, the joy or “joy” that’s so advertised, I feel a deep sadness that this day has actually lost almost everything it had to do with Jesus.

People are celebrating His birthday but they don’t even realise they haven’t even invited the person to be celebrated! So they only celebrate themselves: they celebrate the alcohol, the parties, the food, the presents, but surely not Jesus. Some of them celebrate their families and friends, which is good, but what about the One who brought the unity and love?

There is this huge contrast between the Eastern European and the American or Western worlds. The first is full of religion and traditions that can easily deceive you that it’s actually about Jesus, but in reality it’s only idolatry and adoration of anyone and everything else, but Jesus! You could easily see the name of Jesus or a picture pointing to Him or other biblical or unbiblical characters anywhere. So it’s this constant mess of Jesus with everything else, because people want Jesus plus, they want Jesus and. It’s offensive to only preach Jesus. It’s offensive to be told you’re an idolater. “Christians” everywhere and yet no follower of Jesus, who would honour His birth.

On the other hand there is the western world, which almost completely removed Jesus from the equation. In case you don’t know some Maltese politician in the EU Parliament considers the name Christmas is offensive and should be removed. Even western Christians let themselves be fooled by this “magical atmosphere” of the winter holidays, where it’s only about presents and Christmas trees and Santa Claus. It’s all become a huge masquerade of fanciness, glamour, and richness, while Jesus came in the most humble way, in a sheep stable, in dirt, fodder, poo, and coldness. And here we are, comparing who’s more fashionable, who’s got more presents, who’s got more likes on a Christmas post and all that. Shameful.

Back to where I was crying. “Go and marry that harlot. Yes, buy her, marry her, and beget children.” That’s what God told Hosea. God’s people were so adulterous that they literally came to the point where they got this status of harlots. Because that’s how sinful their nature had become. That’s how deeply they had forsaken the God who rescued them. That’s how inflamed they there for sinning, for defiling themselves, and everything they had been entrusted with.

And here we are, today, in the last days of 2021, full of passions for anything else, but God. Here we are an adulterous generation that burns with lust for sex, and drugs, and alcohol, and power. Here we are the Christians, so guilty for the church failed in this society. Here we are those called to be set apart who have emerged ourselves so badly in the world that there’s barely any difference now between us and them.

In Hosea 7:10 it says that pride testifies against our face, and still we don’t come back to the Lord and don’t seek His face. Because we’re so arrogant! We’re so proud about what we do and who we’ve become! We like our failures. And we literally love SIN! It’s sexy, it’s tempting, it’s provoking! And we celebrate it.

We defiled Christmas, we paganised it. And we’re proud of it. That’s why I was crying. I was crying because this should’ve been Jesus’ birthday – a holy and humble remembrance of His descending among us. And I was crying in repentance for UK, Belgium, Romania, Malta, and all the other countries of Europe. Because I’m here on this continent and I feel responsible, as one who knows the truth, the way, and the life. As one that back in time had contributed to this mockery of Jesus and now is awakened. What did Hosea feel like when God told him all those things? It should’ve been heart breaking.

But because God is not hopeless and doesn’t bring hopelessness, here it is: the promise of our amazing God:

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

Thank You Jesus! Thank You for Your example of love, humbleness, stewardship, compassion, mercy, kindness, joy, righteousness. Thank you for salvation!

Happy Christmas! Jesus loves you and calls you to repentance! Now and here it is the best moment to receive His love!