The Reason for Christmas

“And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” Matthew 1:21

The Message of Christmas has for centuries been told and salvation ever been linked to the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Good News of Christmas, the hope, the giving, the care, and great love started not with Santa but actually… with Almighty God himself!

I know, when I mention ‘Almighty God’ people fear… folks shrink back… the reason is He is absolutely Holy, and Righteous! Yet, on the first Christmas it was “God who so loved the world that he gave” (John 3:16). God did not give condemnation, He did not pour out wrath, He did not give more law of do this and don’t do that… What did God give? God gave his Son, Jesus for the sake of the world… the greatest gift ever!

You see, because of Almighty God’s pure holiness and mankind’s sheer sinfulness there was this huge gulf between the two. God, in his heart wanted a loving, caring and complete relationship with mankind. Because of God’s very pure nature it was impossible for Him to show himself personally to mankind and mankind, well, let’s admit it we, on our own, are sinful.

Jesus, the babe in a manager mentioned on occasions this Christmas grew to be a man and taught a loving Good News that He was sent from his Heavenly Father so that others could believe in Him and therefore have a relationship with Almighty God.

There’s something about the sinful nature of mankind that can’t stand the light of righteousness and because of this the world crucified the loving, gentle, giving Son, Jesus. Yet, Jesus was not just a man, He was also the Son of God and on the third day he rose from the grave. This event we now call Easter.

Now, some 2,000 years + we celebrate a variety of Christmas’s. Some celebrate Santa. Some celebrate the winter holiday. But as for me and my house we celebrate the giving that God gave us… Christ, his Son, Christ the King on a throne in heaven and on the hearts of those who believe in Him!

Who is on the throne of your heart? Yourself or Christ this Christmas?

May you and yours know the peace and joy of Christmas!

Reaching for the Rack

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

I love mercy, don’t you? I also like playing pool and I’m not too bad a player, sometimes. On some days I don’t play all that well. I forget the basics like form, tempo, and strategy. And so I miss shots that ‘typically’ I make. I fall behind in the game and before I know it, I’m pulling out the rack. As my friend John sometimes jokingly remarks when this occurs, “loser” as he plasters a finger-‘L’ to his forehead in my direction…

And yes, sometimes in the serious game of life I feel like a loser, ever felt that way? Just like the game of pool sometimes we shoot straight and true and sometimes we don’t. And sometimes, we miss the mark. When we miss the mark in life, the Bible calls this sin. Thankfully, because of the atonement through Jesus Christ we can start over, start new, and be given a new rack.

But, to receive we have to admit something, admit something painfully obvious… we have to admit that in this life that we are losers… that is, we are sinners and that in our own strength we miss the mark of what God intended for our lives in the first place. For some, all this may be new knowledge and you may first want to sit on the sidelines, again…, and watch… but consider how you’ve played the game of life so far… you’ve played alone, haven’t you?

Ever consider that maybe, just maybe you need a coach, a teacher, a friend who’s love abides deep within your heart and soul? His name is Jesus Christ. He’s not a religion, he’s the humble servant who died to take your sin away and rose again for you and for me so that we can truly live... live through him.

If you are a believer in Christ then you know what to do. His Spirit within you prompts you, guides you. We know when we’ve made a mess and so we humble ourselves and reach for the rack of mercy-we go to the throne and there find mercy and grace and full acceptance, because Christ cleansed forever our missed marks on the cross of Calvary.

So today, if you ‘scratch’, miss-cue, or if your opponent sin gets the better of you, accept the situation, acknowledge your faults, and reach for mercy, reach for Christ and find the grace you need to start your life, your day, or your moment by moment with a loving Savior, a new.

Fear Not

“Fear not: for I am with you: be not dismayed: for I am your God: I will strengthen you: yes, I will help you: yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness” Isa. 41:10

You know… these are great words. I don’t know about you but in simply reading them I feel strengthened and more encouraged. The God of the universe is so interested in you and me that from His throne He would promise – ‘hey, don’t worry about it, I’ve got your back’.

First, this lets me know that God understands you and I. He knows that we fear. And yes, we fear-reflect for a moment…………what do you fear? Then hear God thunder, “Fear Not!” Wow, what do you think of whatever you were afraid of? (For, I said in past tense ‘were’ ) – the very Word of God drives that fear away-doesn’t it?

But God doesn’t leave a void. He Christ says “for I am with you.” He takes away… to give back. Then God says, “be not dismayed for I am your God.” God is saying, don’t be down, don’t be discouraged. Why? “For I am your God.” I take that as saying, you belong to me and I belong to you and also, that God’s in absolute control. That helps because sometimes-work-and-this-world-and-people-sometimes-are-just-crazy. And all of this affects you and me until it feels like everything is out of control and we just want to shout, ‘hey, who’s in charge here’? God is saying, He is.

Next, God promises that he will give you strength; He will help you, and he will uphold you. Notice that God doesn’t take you out of the situation but he promises… God gives His word… that he will give you strength enough, help enough, and hold your head over the surging craziness high enough, so that you can endure, persevere, and help you meet the challenge before you-through Him.

So, “Fear Not” for fear kills our hearts, our joy, and our ability to trust… and in the crazy world that we live in it is the utmost comfort to trust in God and know, he’s got your back!

Next Room

“But whoever listens to me shall dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil” Prov. 1:33

We are given opportunities everyday to hear. Often, we hear, so often, that we take listening for granted. We’ve grown accustomed to the words and noise of this world, in our life, and the whispers within our own heart. They are like the ticking clock in the next room. We know its there, we know its sound but we really don’t listen to it. I wonder-has the voice of God’s Spirit been relegated to the next room in our hearts?

What happened that His Word no longer satisfies our hearts? What changed? What went wrong that in the next room sits our Bibles while we watch this… do that… attend to this… are occupied with… All with no thought, little regard that the very words of Life, encouragement, instruction, chastisement, and peace that our soul so craves is in the next room, the next decision.

Where’s that fluid joy that washed over our hearts, melted away our pride, and prompted Bible studies into the long hours of the night? Where’s the giving, sharing, and love that marked us as like Christ – as Christians? Recall how safe you felt, how secure, how peaceful and calm you felt, you knew when you first came to Christ. The world and its problems could drift by but you were at peace as you listened, conversed, and read about or to your dearest friend, Jesus. You read in your study, in your car, on the steps of your home, your school, or with your back against a tree. Life was joyous and you could not wait to extend the joy given to you to others.

Something changed. We changed. Our hearts changed for Christ. With work we can remember our First Love. With diligence we can hear clearly the voice calling from the next room. For heaven is not that far away. It’s only a door and a room away. Jesus is that door and he’s only a prayer, a turn of a page, a whisper (if we listen) away.