This Day in History: 0000-12-25

December 25 – John 1:10-13

He came into the very world He created, but the world didn’t recognize Him. He came to His own people, and even they rejected Him. But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn – not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.

The tagline for this feature is: Daily encouragement for a healing heart form the Word of God. What better encouragement is there for our hurting hearts, my friends, than the amazing and simple truth in these verses? The very basics of our faith are often the truths that we must cling to in times of trouble, for they are what will see us through! So, let’s meditate on this very basic, foundational truth and rejoice in it today. Let’s allow it to heal our hearts!

Here it is: Jesus Christ, God Himself, the Creator of the world, did something completely unheard of. He gave up all the power and privilege of His divine position, left the splendor of heaven, and became a part of His own creation. Can you imagine? Would you ever draw a picture, no matter how beautiful, and then CHOOSE to become a part of that picture – taking on all its limitations? You would be leaving your three-dimensional world for one of two dimensions. You would be giving up your ability to move and think and talk and have relationships. No one would ever do it! Yet that is what Jesus Christ did when He came to earth as a human baby!  What a sacrifice!

Despite the fact that He was the One True God, the world didn’t recognize Him. He had told His people that He would come. We’ve spent this month examining many of those prophecies. He had told them what to watch for, and still, they didn’t recognize Him, and thus rejected Him. When the Lord God of Heavens Armies stood before them, they treated Him like a criminal. And yet, He continued with His plan and gave His life as a sacrifice for sin. When He rose in victory, He offered to all who simply believe in Him the right to become children of the Lord God Almighty! He offered us a chance to start over, to be made new, to be reborn.

And here’s the real kicker. Here’s the thing that will surely soothe our weary souls. He did it all – every bit of it –  because He wanted us. He had chosen us already to be His dearly loved daughters and sons and He was willing to do anything to make a way for that to happen. Dear one, YOU are a chosen daughter or son of the High King of Heaven! He gave His life for you. To save you. To make you His. What sorrow in this life could possibly compare to the joy of that truth? You. Are. His.

Celebrate Him today. Celebrate His coming. Celebrate His sacrifice. And celebrate the fact that he brought with Him Hope for today, and for all our tomorrows! And may you have a very merry Christmas!