Thankful for Christmas
By Dean Honeycutt
Mitchell County
I am so thankful for Christmas and all that it means to us. And I wonder why do I believe in Jesus who I cannot see or touch? I believe every word the Bible says about the virgin birth of Christ. God left heaven and came to earth in a miracle birth. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost and born of the Virgin Mary. God came to earth as a little baby born in a place livestock was kept, because all the rooms were taken in the inn. Mary wrapped God’s Son in swaddling clothes. Similar strips of cloth would be used later to wrap our precious Savior’s body in for burial.
Jesus the Godman voluntarily emptied Himself of deity to experience humanity. God became flesh and lived among us. Jesus lived a sinless life and took my place on a Roman Cross becoming my substitute. Jesus’s death on that Roman cross satisfied God’s anger against my sin. Jesus’s death on that cross paid for my sin, something I cannot do because I am a sinner. I cannot pay for my sin nor can I work my way out of sins debt. Jesus’s death alone atoned for my sin. Grace is God’s riches at Christ’s expense. Grace is the unmerited favor of God in Christ Jesus. In order to have my sin forgiven, I place my faith in the finished work of the cross.
Christmas reminds me that Jesus came to earth to die for me. He did not have to come, but He did. For God so loved the world that He sent His only Son Jesus. Christmas reminds me of the miracle God did in my life. I believe in Jesus because Jesus changed my life. I will never forget the day I was saved, and Jesus came into my heart. My life has never been the same since that glorious day. I thank God that Jesus saved me and gave me eternal life. So, we celebrate the birth of Christ at Christmas and we give gifts, and these gifts remind us of the greatest gift of all Jesus the Christ.
May you and your family have a wonderful Christmas, and may you focus on the true meaning of Christmas. Help your children understand why God had to come to earth, and why Jesus is the greatest gift ever. Jesus is the greatest gift we can share with others. The Bible says, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Yes, Jesus is a gift and what a wonderful gift He is. Father thank you for sending your Son and thank you, Father, for saving me.
Merry Christmas from my family to yours,
Pastor Dean Honeycutt
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Pastor Dean Honeycutt shepherds Snow Hill Baptist Church in Bakersville, NC. He may be reached at 828-385-0213, snowhillbaptist@gmail.com, or visit their website at www.snowhillbaptist.com.
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