Blessings Friends!
Christmas is upon us. A time to celebrate the greatest gift ever given. The one and only Son of God, in the form of a little baby. Not snuggled in a royal purple robe and rocking in a cradle of gold, but wrapped in cloths like those used to dress a body for burial, and resting on a bed of straw. Our humble, gentle Savior
Just imagine—there was a time when the God of Creation walked with mankind, loving them, teaching them—the original stay-at-home Dad.
But there came a time when man was presented a path that bypassed his Creator, an opportunity to be “self-educated, ” and he took it. With that one choice, that one refusal to trust in the wisdom of their Father, the eyes of Adam, Eve, and all their decedents were opened to their own wretchedness. No longer could man stand in the presence of God’s perfection. It was certain death.
From that time on, man looked on God with fear. Time after time, God revealed himself to mankind in an attempt to reach him. Permanent separation from His precious children was not in His plan. Through fire, signs and wonders, earthquakes, and tornadoes, He revealed His glory, His worthiness to be trusted and loved.
But mankind ran away, choosing instead to worship blocks of wood, statues of gold—themselves, anything but the only God who could love them unconditionally. God knew they would run, and that some, in their running would realize how much they missed their Father. How much they needed Him.
To help them remember, He sent them a gift. A little baby, His only Son. Not a strong-armed judge or a conquering king sent to exact His revenge on a people who reject Him, but the very image of meekness and humility sent to serve, love, heal, restore. A child who would grow up to take all the sins of the world to the cross—the sins of a people who would reject Him.
The very image of an all-loving, all-forgiving God.
This gift is still available today for the asking, but it is a limited time offer. Time is growing short.
Hebrews 10:37: “For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry.”
And you can’t just accept the gift and set it on a shelf to collect dust. Unopened, it is of no use.
Matthew 7:20-21: “Therefore by their fruits you will know them. Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”
Salvation is only a part of the gift. You must open it and receive what’s inside, the Holy Spirit. And as Christ gave His all to you, you must give your all to Him.
The Holy Spirit has the power to transform our lives from rags to the riches of God’s glory. He alone can take the old and make it new–and the old cannot enter into God’s presence.
This gift is alive and powerful, and becoming a new creation in Christ is the affect it has on those don’t just accept it, but open and receive it. Not just God with us, but God in us.
1 John 3:2: “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”
To think, all this from a little baby.
Merry Christmas!
God’s grace and peace be yours,
Rebecca
