Simply Christmas

Christmas is a glorious time of the year! It’s a time to celebrate Christ. To reflect deeply on how much we are loved; a time to love others as an offering of praise and thanksgiving to our Lord. My prayer is that Christmas will be more than just a moment but a message of meaning 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 (NLT) 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 used 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 and show them a better way.

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 in 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 through 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(ERV) Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him would not be lost 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.

Terry is a blog contributor who is thankful for her life in Jesus which fills her life with joy.