This time of the year should bring us joy and peace, but there seems to be a lack of joy and peace in our world today. People are busy shopping and decorating. Many are gathering food for family suppers. There are a lot of stressed out people in a hurry trying to get everything accomplished before Christmas, but I am afraid that there is someone missing from most people's Christmas celebration and that is Jesus.
Many people give no thought of Jesus Christ during Christmas, how sad is that? People are in such a rush to get the perfect gift and yet they fail to receive the most awesome gift that has ever been given and that is the opportunity to be reconciled back to God by having a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
We have all sinned and we have all fallen short of the glory of God. We are all deserving of being separated from God and placed in a literal hell for all eternity. God doesn't want anyone to perish and be sent to hell so He made a way for us to enter into His presence by sending His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to this world to save us sinners.
The Lord loves us and He wants everyone to come to repentance and trust Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. God made a way when there seemed to be absolutely no way. We know that all things are possible with our God. Jesus lived a perfect and sinless life and He laid down His life on the Cross for our sins. It is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ that we obtain forgiveness of our sins and entrance in Heaven. We must acknowledge that we are sinners and can't save ourselves because none of us are good enough. We must confess our sin problem to the Lord and receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. We come to the Lord Jesus by placing our faith in Him and His finished work on the Cross.
When I think about Christmas I think about that very first Christmas when Jesus came to the earth a baby and was placed in a manger. What a great day that was when the Savior of the world was born into this world. We can read of that account in Luke 2:1-20 which says,
"1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.
2 (This was the first census that took place whilea Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,
7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.
11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,
18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. "
It is time for us to stop what we are doing and remember the true meaning of Christmas. It is a noisy time of the year and sometimes we get so used to the activities and the programs that we forget the significance of what Christmas truly means.
God, the Creator of all things seen and unseen sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to the earth on a rescue mission to save us from our sins because of His great everlasting love for us. Sometimes we fail to see how much God loves us. There are times when we get distracted by everything that is going on that we forget about Jesus and remember all that He has done for us and all that He continues to do for us.
Knowing Jesus should be our top priority and telling others about Him should be the next thing on our to do list. Our world is dying and it needs a Savior. They won't find one in a world leader. They won't find one in any person on the earth. There is only one Savior and that is Christ Jesus the Lord.
This Christmas may we remember all that Jesus has done for us. May we praise Him and give Him all the glory and worship.
Lord,
We praise Your Name.
Thank You for sending Jesus Christ into this world to save us from our sins.
We praise Your Name.
Help us to feed on Your Holy Word and walk in the Spirit each and everyday.
In Jesus Name we pray,
Amen.
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