0
0
By Rev Don Rivers
Christmas begins the celebration of the greatest gift ever. Christmas is the time we celebrate the love of God manifested in the birth of Jesus. The hope, joy, peace, and love of mankind presented to us in the gift of a Savior. How will we receive this gift? Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Banquet time is a time of celebration; a time when we celebrate the accomplishments of the past season. A time when we get together and reflect on what we accomplished as a team. We define our success based on our performance.
But God’s love is not performance based. God loves each one of us regardless of what we have done. This is what makes Christmas a celebration for all. Jesus came for everyone, not just a select few that performed well.
Remember those familiar verses from the Gospel of John where it states “everyone who believes in him.” God did not restrict the celebration to just the top teams. God didn’t even restrict the celebration to the ones who loved Him.
John 3:16-17; NLT; “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.
The celebration is for all mankind. John wrote it this way in another of his writings;
1John 4:9-10; God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
God loved us before we even considered loving Him. That is a true gift. God provided for us before we even knew we needed something. God wants all of us, “everyone who believes in Him” to have life and have it to the full. We must first accept the gift God offers, the gift of His Son. This isn’t just any gift, this is the ultimate gift. Read what the writer of Colossians says about Christ.
Colossians 1:15-20; He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Paul goes on to explain to us what the meaning of this gift is and how we should respond.
Colossians 1:21-23; Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation– if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
God has made the provision that can restore our relationship with Him; the provision that will forgive our sins; the provision that will make our life complete; the provision of a Savior, Jesus Christ. He asks only that we receive the gift. Are we willing to receive the gift that God presents to us this Christmas? Are we willing to receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior?
Sometimes in life, when we are living in the moment, we have trouble comprehending what others have done for us. I look back on my childhood years and can now appreciate all my parents did for me. I didn’t see it or understand it so much back then but now I know what it cost them to provide for me. I can now understand what sacrifices they made to help me grow into the man I have become. Take a look around as we celebrate this season. Who has provided for us; who has sacrificed for us; who has gone above and beyond; those are the people we need to thank God for.
The fact about Christmas is we celebrate the birth of our Savior, a Savior whose death was necessary to bring us salvation. We cannot fathom the love it takes for someone to lay down their life for us. The celebration has its foundation in the understanding that Jesus came to sacrifice everything He had for us, His very life. We celebrate the hope made flesh to dwell among men. If you know forgiveness, don’t hold back. Celebrate; Jesus is the reason for that forgiveness. He alone made it possible for us to know that we have been forgiven. He alone made it possible for us to have that assurance.
Philippians 2: 6-11; (Jesus), being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death– even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
That is why we celebrate. That is why we rejoice. That is why Christmas is one of the most holy times of the year. Jesus came. He was willing to do what was necessary so that we could have life. Jesus said;
John 10:10; The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
We can only have a full, satisfying, abundant life through our Savior Jesus Christ. Every other way leads to dissatisfaction and strife. May I suggest celebrating the holiday in a special way this year. Remember the gift that God sent to you. Receive it with an open heart. Celebrate the fact that Jesus was willing to come for our sake and give his life so that we might have life.
Have a wonderful Christmas celebration! Remember the best gift of all, Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and receive it as your own! God’s continued blessings from everyone here at Racing with Jesus Ministries.
Until next time, remember God loves you and Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing! God Bless. Remember, that your prayerful support and donations helps us continue this ministry. Merry Christmas
