Christmas is my favorite time of the year! A time to love others well because we were so loved by God. I love the decorations, the food, the joy in children’s hearts. But what I enjoy most is celebrating Christ as Savior and King of my life. But if we aren’t careful, we can let these trying times distract us from what Christmas is really about: Sacrifice and love. May our prayer be that Christmas will be more than just a temporary feel-good experience but a message of hope that forever affects every part of our lives.
He Came
John 6:38 (NLT)
For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my
own will.
Jesus willingly came from His heavenly home to become part of humanity. A sinless man entered a sin-filled world to make a way for us to be holy and at one with God. What a sacrifice!
He is
John 1:14 (NIV) The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the
glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Jesus is ALIVE! He chose to show us glory, the atmosphere of heaven here on earth. His grace extended to
us in our desperate need of salvation. And His truth was provided so we may live a victorious life.
Redeemer
Galatians 4:4-5 (ASV) But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman,
born under the law, that he might redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the
adoption of sons.
Right on time! God knew we would need a Savior and he sent Jesus into a society bound by law to set free
those held captive by that law. He exchanged His life for ours, granting freedom from sin’s grip on all
mankind and choosing us as sons and daughters.
Immanuel
Matthew 1:23(ASV) Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, And they shall
call his name Immanuel; which is, being interpreted, God with us.
God is with us! He is not a god who is worshipped only in a temple building. He is alive in our hearts with
us through every moment of life. This is the true reality of our faith–we are never alone.
Savior
Luke 1:45-47(NASB) And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment
of what had been spoken to her by the Lord. And Mary said: “My soul exalts the Lord,
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.”
It’s hard to believe in something you can’t experience with your human senses. But God
uses a simple young girl to show us we can believe as we allow Him to guide us and use us
for His purpose, not our own. Out of her circumstances she believed in a Savior whom she
hadn’t known in person but she knew in her heart.
Teacher
Matthew 9:11(NASB) When the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, “Why is
your Teacher eating with
the tax collectors and sinners?”
God sent us His Son to give us a pattern for life. Like Him, we are to seek the hurting and
lost to show them a better way. We are to love ALL mankind with His redemptive love.
Man
Hebrews 4:15(NLT) This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced
all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin.
What a privilege that our faith provides us a Savior who knows our weaknesses! We can
approach Him with confidence. He’s proven He understands our frame and is eager to help
us have freedom.
All
Colossians 1:16(NIV) For by him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth,
visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities. All things were created
by him and for him.
That’s you! That’s me! Because of Jesus we celebrate that our lives have meaning and
purpose. We are valued.
Simple
John 3:16(NIV) For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that
whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
A simple message. A sincere cry of God’s heart. God desires us to live in peace as He
originally intended. We can have that peace as we look to Jesus to be our Savior and friend.
Beautiful as always Terry! Merry Christmas!
You too friend! I’m impressed with your homemade food items! Yum!!