This Christmas 2025 we all celebrate the greatest gift we could ever hope to receive. That would be Jesus, the babe our Creator sent into His creation to redeem lost mankind. He followed that up by giving us what is perhaps the second greatest gift to mankind, His Holy Spirit. His Spirit indwells us, leading us in all righteousness, convicting us of sin, telling us the mind of the Father, and telling us what’s to come. The third amazing gift is His Word, the book authored by the Holy Spirit containing God’s direct communication revealing His ultimate plan for those He loves and created in His image. This book, the Bible, is everything we need for guidance as we navigate life in this world and prepare for the one to come. Unfortunately, many Christians do not strive to be led by the Spirit, and most Christians have only a surface knowledge of what God has freely shared with us. I encourage you to make 2026 a year where you ask and allow the Spirit to lead you in all things. Also, commit to reading through the entire bible this year.
There are many resources to help you with a reading pattern spread out over the coming year. Many study bibles have a yearly reading guide included. Many churches have handouts. Also, there are many internet resources to help. For the last several years, my wife and I read each night from various translations on a website called: Bible Gateway – Reading Plans We usually choose a plan that includes passages from both the old and new testaments each day.
Don’t ignore these great gifts and make 2026 a year of awesome personal spiritual growth. Merry Christmas and happy new year.
Maranatha, Jim