What is Christmas to you? We have come to know Christmas for all of its commercialism...and most of us would say we hate it! But there's also a host of other things Christmas is known for: Christmas lights and Christmas decor, even to the point of competitions; Santa Claus and his reindeer; snowmen; wreaths, stockings, and let's not forget mistletoe; a multitude of silly Christmas songs. The list goes on and on! But what is Christmas really? I'd really like to tell you!
Matthew 1:23 says this: "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." And Isaiah 9:6 says this: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful Counseller, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."
This is the true meaning of Christmas! Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, coming to earth to die for us...born to die! This is the greatest gift mankind will ever know; but this gift isn't ours unless we turn from our sin and accept this wonderful gift of salvation!
John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." God's Son being sent to earth is truly the greatest gift! Romans 6:23 also speaks of a gift. In all actuality, it's the same gift, Jesus Christ being offered to us; all we have to do is accept that gift! Let me quote the verse for you: "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." ...but why must we accept it? That verse tells us why at the very onset: we have all sinned, and because we have sinned, we deserve death. Christ took our punishment, dear friend, when He died on the cross. But like I said earlier, it is a gift. He doesn't force it upon anyone. But if we are to be saved from the punishment of our sin (in a place called hell, and more technically, the lake of fire), then we must turn from our sin, and accept this wonderful gift, God's gracious gift of His Son. Romans 10:9 says, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."
That's God's promise...and God's wonderful, gracious gift! Won't you accept His wonderful gift today?
May you experience the true meaning of Christmas!
Merle
