Intro: How To Christian Your Way Through The Festive Season

There is a lot of excitement over the festive season, rest, reuniting with our families, more so for the student who has endured a strenuous year of university, the assignments, the exams alongside all the stressors that come with being a student. As true as this is to the Christian student the December break  means so much more as much as this is a time of rest it is also a time of reflection. A time to remind ourselves where our identity is found as well as the reason for the season, our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. Therefore, as take off our academic caps, lets be sure to keep on our Christian caps. Reminding ourselves that the identity that we have in Christ is one we carry 24/7, 365.

In the 1st chapter of his 2nd Letter the Apostle Peter offers insightful advice on how those that are living as exiles ought to live. The 3rd verse of this chapter expresses that, "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness". Which means through his grace God has given to his people(us) all that we need for Godly living, even during the holidays when then world is pulling to and fro to live out the festive way, in what they consider to the “right way”. The Apostle prescribes virtues that will aid us in our walk. He highlights virtues that uphold the faith we confess and highlight that we are trusting in Christ. He pleads with us to reject the ways of the world and continue to build on the foundation that the Holy Spirit has laid. He prompts us to to this through upholding these virtues ie goodness, faith, self control etc and maintain them even in the face of hardship and persecution.

We know that going home means something different for all of us. Some of us are going back to homes where our families are trusting in Christ, where we will be held accountable, and our beliefs will be upheld. Some of us are new converts going back to an unbelieving household where we will be challenged. Some are going back to a mixed bag where it is neither here nor there, but the mandate is the same for all of us, we are all called to be diligent and practice these qualities that confirm we have been called.  

Articles that follow will give practical examples of what it looks like to uphold and apply these virtues in our various contexts. So we can Christian our way through the festive season