HOPE MANILA CELEBRATES CHRISTMAS
The Hope Manila Family celebrated Christmas last December 20, 2015, which was attended by more than a hundred faithful members and guests. We witnessed a re-enactment of the birth of Jesus, where the main characters, Mary and Joseph, played by Maya Chamo and Mark Laid respectively, gave a very convincing and heart-warming performance. Immediately after, the Worship Team rendered a medley of the all-too familiar Christmas Carols to everyone’s delight.
The pre-Christmas message entitled “Celebration of the True Treasure” was shared by Alvin Toh, the founder of the Ambassadors for Jesus Christ (AFJC). He cited that all worldly things are God’s creation to benefit mankind. To enjoy and indulge in them are not sinful as long as we know where they come from and not allow these worldly treasures to reign in our hearts. He reminded us of the verse in Matthew 6:21 which says that “where your treasure is, there your heart will also be.” Let us remember that serving two masters at the same time is impossible, for we are bound to choose one over the other. Therefore, we must guard our hearts and thoughts and not succumb to temporal things that give temporary pleasure and satisfaction.
How do we seek the true treasure that will give us eternal peace and joy? By surrendering all our acquired worldly treasures: material possessions, power and fame, pride and prejudice, disobedience and stubbornness to God in exchange for the true treasure which is JESUS. He said that in seeking the true treasure, we need to make an effort by admitting our sins and truly repent and then after finding Jesus, learn to cherish the true treasure by persistently walking with Him in spirit. The changeover is not easy and may not happen instantaneously but if we have Jesus in our hearts and surrender to Him all aspects of our lives, then the transformation will eventually take over. Therefore, we brothers and sisters in Christ, are indeed very blessed for finding the TRUE TREASURE.
By Norma Banag, Hope Manila
