Rescuer

Everyone knows Christmas is a busy time of the year. It’s also a crazy time! People going to Christmas parties, left and right. People crowding malls and stores to get the best deals on gifts for loved ones. Don’t forget all those Christmas movies on tv! And the lights! Don’t forget the lights! Don’t forget about the visitors that we’re expecting on Christmas day. If we’re not careful, Christmas can turn out to be a very stressful time of year.

What exactly is Christmas? Ask people on the streets and you’re bound to get a variety of answers. “Christmas is about family.” “Christmas is about presents.” “Christmas is about parties.” “Christmas is about going to the amazing Christmas pageant at church.” When you examine Christmas closely, it’s not about any of the activities listed above. Those are traditions that surround Christmas. I’m all for those, but those events do not define Christmas.  A person does.

This isn’t an ordinary person. This person would change everything. This person wasn’t just a person. It was God Himself in the flesh. God humbled himself and came as a man. Of course, I’m talking about Jesus Christ. For centuries, His coming was prophesized. For centuries, God had promised that a Rescuer would come and save His people. Christmas celebrates the fulfillment of that promise. This Rescuer would not only rescue the people of Israel, but also rescue the entire world.

Why do we need a Rescuer? During this Christmas season, have you become so frustrated spending what seemed like hours finding a parking space at a crowded mall? I sure did! I hate to say it, but I became so frustrated that I when I saw a car back out and leave a space opened, I zoomed in that space and stole it from someone who had been patiently waiting. Would Jesus do that? Absolutely not! You see, we are all born with a “me” mentality. “How will this affect me?” “How can I use this to benefit me?” “Will this make me look better?” It’s a heart problem. We have been infected with the deadly disease known as sin. Sin is when we choose to disobey God. Since the beginning of time, every human that ever lived (except Jesus) has chosen to disobey God. God is holy. God hates sin! He doesn’t hate the sinner; He hates the sin. Our sin, our disobedience, separates us from God. The relationship between God and man was broken. You see, we can’t be perfect. We can never do enough “good” things to fix our broken relationship with God. But God loved us so much that He was going to do something about it. God decided to come live the life that we should have lived. The perfect life. Jesus’ purpose was to die. When Jesus died on the cross, He took the all our sins upon Him. He paid a debt that we could not pay. Only Jesus bridge the gap between God and man. When we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord of our life, we get credit for His perfect life.

This is why the birth of Christ, the true reason for Christmas, is significant.

This Christmas, I pray that you and your family will take time to ponder the significance of Jesus’ birth. It’s truly amazing when you think about it! Dive into your Bible. Read this truth to your family.

As you give and receive your gifts this Christmas, think about the gift God has presented us with. Think about the sacrifice. The presents that are given to you were not free. Someone had to buy them. The price that Jesus paid for your sins was not free or cheap. It cost Him His life. If you’ve accepted Jesus as your Savior and Lord of your life, live like someone died for you, because Someone did. Maybe you’re reading this and have never accepted Jesus as your Savior. Watch this short video that explains how you can have a relationship with Christ.

May you and your family have a very Merry Christmas! May it be full of fun, fellowship with loved ones, and blessings. More importantly, may it be a time to remember, to reflect on, and to thank God for sending a Rescuer.