Don't throw Him out with
the festive rubbish !
Diane G Nimmo
Now that the festive season is almost upon us, many of us may be thinking about the true meaning of Christmas celebrating the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. Part of that first Christmas story is often depicted on Christmas cards, in nativity scenes, at school plays etc and perhaps even the "Christmassy feeling" of the season may kindle within us religious sentiments. But how many of us stop right there and simply throw out such thoughts and feelings along with all the post-Christmas paraphernalia: cards, decorations, wrapping paper, broken toys and leftovers?
Do we really turf out the Lord of Glory together with all the Christmas rubbish? Surely that cannot be! Surely Jesus' birth must mean more than that! Let's reconsider for a moment who is this Jesus? A good man? Yes, but much more than that, for the Bible says that "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" (1 Tim 1:15) and "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).
This means that this Jesus whose birthday we're supposed to be celebrating was born into this world to die just for you and just for me. He was born so that we might receive forgiveness from God and the free gift of eternal life by means of Jesus' death on the Cross and His resurrection from the dead. He alone could take the penalty due for your sin and for mine.
So, this Christmas, why not consider the One that Christmas is really all about even after you've cleared out all the festive rubbish? You can make Him your own personal Saviour right now, by asking Him for forgiveness from every wrong thought, word and deed, and then by inviting Him to come into your life. It's a decision you'll never regret. In fact, Jesus is the only lasting Christmas gift ever really worth receiving.
The Father's Gift
My gift to you this Christmas
is my Son My one and only Son
who was born that
you may have life.My gift to you this Christmas
is His life - a perfect life - that
you may know how to liveMy gift to you this Christmas
is His death that
through Him your sins
may be forgiven.My Son was born to die for you
that through Him you may know me
and receive eternal life.Won't you take the gift
I offer you this Christmas -
my Son - Jesus?Diane G Nimmo
Christmas 2000
He who put the stars in place
Came to save the human race
