Christmas is nearing and many people are busy buying presents etc.Yes,Christmas may be a season of sharing and giving....but do you all know the real meaning of Christmas?
It is to celebrate the birth of a Saviour ,JESUS CHRIST ,who later died on the cross for our sins.
1) Our Problem: Separation from God
God created us in His own image to have abundant (meaningful) life. He did not make us robots to automatically love and obey him, but he gave us a will and a freedom of choice.
We chose to disobey God and go our own willful way. We still make this choice today. This results in separation from God.
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)
"...your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you so that he will not hear." (Isaiah 59:2)
On our own, there's no way we can attain the perfection needed to bridge the gap to God. Through the ages, individuals have tried many ways...without success.
Good works won't do it...or religion...or money...or morality...or philosophy...
"There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." (Proverbs 14:12)
2) God's Remedy: The Cross
Jesus Christ is the only answer to this problem. He died on the cross and rose from the grave, paying the penalty for our sin and bridging the gap between God and people.
"For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God..."
(I Peter 3:18)
"For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ." (I Timothy 2:5)
"But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
(Romans 5:8)
3) Our Response
Believing means trust and commitment - acknowledging our sinfulness, trusting Christ's forgiveness and letting Him control our life. Eternal, abundant life is a gift for us to receive.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)
"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life." (John 5:24)
Is there any reason why you shouldn't cross over to God's side and be certain of eternal life?
If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins and you want to receive Christ today,
Please pray:
Dear Lord Jesus,
I know that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I now invite you to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as the Lord and Savior of my life.
In Your name. Amen.
Taken from http://www.navigators.org/us/resources/illustrations/items/The%20Bridge%20to%20Life
And I wish all of you a Merry Christmas !!!
Animated version of the biblical Christmas story
Still by Hillsong
A little child lay in the dark;
The room was strange, he saw nowhere,
He was afraid; but then he called,
"Father, are you there?"
He felt a hand, so strong and warm,
Close clasping his: then calm and clear
He heard his father's tender voice,
"Yes, Lad, I am here."
Like the small child, we sometimes feel
That we are in the dark of care;
In terror of some harm, we call,
"O Father, are You there?"
We reach our hand to Him, and find
A blessed answer to our fear;
His hand holds ours; we hear His voice,
"Fear not, for I am here."
So though we tremble in the dark,
In need of strength and help and cheer,
We have a tender Father's word,
"Fear not, for I am here."
Encouraging Christian Stories http://www.christianstories.com
The night before, I read the newspaper just before i did my TAWG (Time Alone With God).When i was reading the part about the lady who died in Mumbai,i suddenly remembered what i read in Ken Seah's blog :
"Father I ask that Lord, you will open up the eyes of all the Ignyters that they must know that the world is ending, incidents like these happens very often, and You are coming back Lord."
And this came as a reminder for me that "Jesus is coming back !!! There is not much time left." So i started to do my TAWG seriously and even started to read the weekly bulletins that i have received for the past one year.How time flies ,it has been 1 year since i first came to my church. For each weekly bulletin,there will always be a section called the Pastor 's pen. The two verses that spoke to me are
John 15:5
Jesus tells us,"I am the vine,you are the branches.If a man remains in Me and I in Him,he will bear much fruit;apart from Me,you can do nothing."
This verse tells us how important it is to walk closely with Jesus,each and everyday of our lives.
Just like what the pastor illustrate in his example:
Running partners need to stay close and pace with one another.You would not be a very good running partner if you sprint way ahead without mutual agreement or choose to lag behind.
This is the same with our relationship with God.
The moment we distant from God,we have either chosen to sprint ahead by doing our own things at our own pace or chosen not to keep pace with God.
The second verse is Galatians 5:25
"Since we live by the Spirit,let us keep in step with the Spirit."
So for this coming Christmas,let us remember the REASON for this Christmas ,to know Jesus and to live a life in Him.
And do remember that, "JESUS IS COMING BACK SOON !!!"