-Strength for Today- "The Reason for the Season." - Luke 2:4-19.

    Christmas means many things to many people, but most importantly it should cause you to focus on the God who made you and, joyfully gave you the greatest gift you’ll ever receive. But for many people, Christmas it’s a time of sorrow. They don't have the extra money to buy presents. And many are saddened when they think about:

·       The loved ones who’ve transitioned from this earth, or of

·       Loved ones who won’t be able to come home for various reasons.

Or they think about those “Christmas dinners,” which aren’t the same anymore, because the mothers that used to be there, aren’t there anymore:  

·       Standing back,

·       Smiling,

    As they watched their families enjoy that graciously love feast that they prepared for them. But in spite of the trip down memory lane, Christmas is a season that was “divinely designed by God,” for the purpose of Him:

·       Showing His great love for us, and

·       Would, at the cross, extend to all of humanity,

    Spiritual healing through His Son – Isaiah 53:4-5.

 We celebrate Christmas based upon what God did for us, when He miraculously brought His Son into the world.  Jesus’ birth brought great joy to the world. The:

·       Shepherds,

·       Wise men, and

·       Angels,

    All shared in the excitement of knowing about this great event. They knew He was the one that the prophets told of, hundreds of years before He came. The star stopped over Bethlehem just to mark the way for those who were looking for this special child – Luke 2:4-19. Jesus’ entrance into this world was one of:

·       Truth,

·        Love, and

·        Hope.

    He brought salvation to all of us, because without Jesus, we’d all die in our sins. He was born so one day the price for our inherited sin nature would be paid, and, that whosoever will believe by faith, can be restored back to God. Jesus came so He could die on the cross for ALL of our sins.  And if we “believe” that He died for our sins, then we’re:

·       Clean and

·       Made whole.

 And we can know that heaven is the place where we’ll go to when this life is over. So look at Christmas in a new way this year. Let this be the year when you allow this “Christmas to be a joyous one." And let the peace that you receive, last you all year as you look to God for all your needs to be met.

Author: Plez Lovelady, Jr., PhD