Today’s Scripture Passage:
John 1:1-14
Key Verse:
“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. “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. John 3:16-18 (NLT)
I know, it’s Christmas Eve and you have things to do!
Thank you taking the time to spend a few minutes with me.
This is a wonderful season of celebration for all Jesus-followers. Why?
Jesus is THE Christ of Christmas!
He’s the Messiah, the Christ, promised long ago.
The ONE by whom all mankind can be saved.
He saves us from eternal separation from God, our Creator.
Jesus is Immanuel.
He’s God with us in the flesh!
God came to earth as a baby, lived his life without ever committing a sin, willingly died a gruesome death, was buried in a borrowed tomb, and was resurrected to life again on the third day.
He did all of this because He loves us.
FYI: We sin because we’re sinners, and our sin separates us from the Holy God who created us. But He loves us so much, He chose to make the first move toward reconciliation. That just means He made a way for our relationship with Him to be restored.
Jesus is living in heaven right now! He’s preparing a place for everyone who chooses to believe in Him and become Jesus-followers.
It sounds too simple, right?!
Just choose to believe and follow Jesus and your eternity is forever changed.
Or maybe you’re thinking it sounds too hard to give up your own way of living and follow Jesus.
Well, there’s more Good News!
The moment we choose to believe in Jesus, His Holy Spirit comes to live in us. He is our Helper! He helps us understand what we read in our Bibles about who God is and who we are as Jesus-followers. He opens our eyes to the choices we didn’t see we could make before; choices that seemed unavailable before we were Jesus-followers.
How many times have you said, “I didn’t have a choice.”?
Jesus-followers have choices!
It’s one of the many benefits of being a follower.
It’s part of our freedom in Jesus.
We’re freed from living a life of conformity. We’re freed from following our own emotions or the ways of this world when we become Jesus-followers.
Yes, it takes practice to live in freedom. I’m learning it’s best to pause and pray every time I find myself thinking there’s only one choice. In fact, I’m learning I must practice the pause and pray way of living in every circumstance. Why?
Even good things are not always God’s best thing for me to have or do or be.
Wait! We’ll save that truth for another time. For now, I’ll just say…
Merry Christmas!
May your celebration of Christ overflow with all the joy that comes with belonging to Jesus!
Digging Deeper:
Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Romans 10:9-13,
This is a link to a message explaining the chain reaction we experience when we choose to live a life of trusting Jesus. Sunday 9am Service 12/20 Trust Me Week 3 – YouTube
If you have not yet met Jesus, you can meet Him today. He created you. He loves you. He wants you to be a part of His family. I encourage you to step into the life He created you to live. You will still have the troubles of this world, but you will no longer be facing them alone. I’m praying for you! https://peacewithgod.net/mobile/?utm_source=Microsoft&utm_medium=CPC&utm_term=HowToGoToHeaven&utm_campaign=USPWGMobileSearchMic
Here’s a link to Mary Did You Know sung by Pentatonix. It was one of my Daddy’s favorite Christmas songs. Enjoy! pentatonix mary did you know – Bing
Not all members of Pentatonix are Jesus-followers, but they sing a lot of Christmas songs. Would you join me in praying for them to come to know, trust, and follow the Christ of Christmas they sing about in their songs?
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Amen! I would be in a very bad place if not for the unfailing love, persevering patience, and cleansing forgiveness of Jesus our Savior!
Pause and pray when I feel there is no choice! That is something I plan to practice and pray it becomes my routine. Even now I’m saddened to think of the times I’ve moved forward vs “practicing the pause .” Always thankful for our Saviors love, patience, and forgiveness!!
Dear Sara, I’m so glad the LORD used me to deliver words of promise to you! He’s amazing, isn’t He?! I hope you enjoy the song. Pentatonix is a very talented group of voices and sounds. Merry Christmas to you and Jim. We love y’all, too!
Sweet Cindy, thank you for being such a kind and gentle traveling companion as we learn together how to live in freedom while following Jesus. Merry Christmas!
Thank you Barbara for such promising words. I love Mary did you Know. I can’t wait to hear this version.
Merry Christmas to you and George. Love you both.
Merry Christmas. Thank you for teaching me about freedom!