Part 1: How To Christian Your Way Through The Festive Season

The holiday season is a time of festivities, joy , and rest—a well-deserved break from the routines of school and work. However, for Christian students, it can also be a time of spiritual challenge. Away from campus ministries, Christian friends, and structured fellowship, it's easy for faith to take a backseat amidst the distractions of holiday activities

The Apostle Peter highlights virtues that can help us as we go through the business of the holidays. Here are some practical examples of how they can play out in our lives

Goodness

A biblical perspective of goodness places God as the source and the believer as the executioner. The mere ability for us to be good in this season comes from God. Therefore, practically we are to keep looking to God and faithfully serve Him and His people.

Practically this looks like like us being helpful around the house; serving our family joyfully by doing our chores, as to our Lord. This goodness can extended through our service to our community, keeping the neighborhood clean or even directly assisting that old neighbor, by availing yourself to their service whether they need groceries, cleaning etc. We should spread goodness during the festive season through deeds that proclaim the gospel and glorify Christ. Most importantly as we go back to our churches-back home, we should serve and attend as regularly as we possibly can, because if we are being honest, we will have a lot of time during the holidays. Should we be fortunate to get vacation employment, we are obligated to exercise this goodness in that context as well, by working diligently and upholding integrity. The goodness that we have in Christ should seen in us, wherever we are, and in all that we do

 Knowledge

Insight and understanding are found in the word, this could be a good time to finally revisit that devotions-schedule, or to make a new one! Peter stresses the need to pursue the knowledge of God. By his grace, God has given us his Holy Scriptures and we need to be busy feasting on the Bible. We need to be cautious about the dangers of only studying towards academic pursuit. We should serve God with our minds and study to show ourselves approved unto God, as workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. We should seek after knowledge like Solomon whose knowledge, many considered to be supernatural,  but history would allude to his unquenchable hunger for knowledge, reading everything he could lay his eyes on, he pursued knowledge and understanding, and God graciously gave wisdom to him. Fortunately, this gift extends to those who would seek wisdom. We should use the time we have this season  to expand our knowledge to the glory of God, what better way to do this other than to study the bible?

Self-control

Temperance or exercising restraint, the avoidance of extreme behaviors in thought, actions and feelings - one of the fruits of the Spirit and the testament of the Spirit’s work in us. Certainly, the festive season bombards us with waves of opportunities for indulgence in pleasure. There are events everywhere; everyone is there, even our favorite celebrities, and we have the luxury of time and resources! Afterall, we don’t want to be the boring Christian, sure, but we do not divorce restraint and self-control, we want to always be mindful that we are sojourners and pilgrims in this world, we are in the world but, not of this world. Some of us will be reuniting with old friends that ‘know’ us as our old selves, they might pressure us to do what we have always done for fun. Activities such as partying, drinking, sex, drugs and the like, We don’t live this way anymore. Perhaps this might be a chance for us to minister to them. Another important aspect of self-control is getting out of those weird sleeping patterns, waking up late (because we’re sleeping late), lack of exercise and lack of proper nutrition. Fast during this season and grow closer to God. We should practice control and discipline ourselves. Start running, read that book, equip yourselves, master that cookbook and control your indulgence in the socials - put the screen away. Finally, don’t be Lazy!,  It’s sinful.

 The holiday season is a time of celebration, but it is also an opportunity to reflect Christ in our actions. By practicing goodness, pursuing knowledge, and exercising self-control, we can remain faithful amidst the busyness and distractions. Let us remember that everything we do—whether in service, study, or rest—can glorify God.