so, i wrote tried writing this blog post a couple of days ago from kentucky, where i spent Christmas with my wife’s family, but apparently, the connection from my phone was not strong enough even to save the draft…
either way, the impact is no less today than yesterday & I hope the same for you…
as i was opening presents on Christmas morning, i had a profound truth revealed to me.
i had been praying for a deeper understanding of what the birth of Jesus means not only to me, but to the whole world.
the Holy Spirit answered in a beautiful way.
Jesus was born to die…
for me.
if this doesn’t blow you away, that’s ok
because this can easily be one of those things that you hear so often that the meaning is lost,
but i want you to read it again:
Jesus
was
born
to
die
for
you.
ok.
the mind-blowing, ego-altering, soul-transforming reality is that
not only did Jesus take the payment of my sin (that i very much deserve)…
He transformed that wrath into favor (that i very much do not deserve).
this is the only perfect form of grace and mercy that this earth has ever experienced.
there will never again be an act, or thought, that can even get close to the magnitude, in terms of mercy & grace, of His birth & death.
first: this is not just taking a payment that you deserve & leaving you back where you started with no positive or negative after effects (even though you deserve them)…
this is taking a payment that you deserve & then giving you more…
example:
you are caught speeding & get a ticket.
somebody pays for your speeding ticket and then gives you $150 cash just because.
second: the payment that you & i deserve is eternal death.
hell.
complete & forever separation from God
because of our sin.
BUT …
He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
complete payment on our behalf + absolutely unmerited favor
this is the profound reality:
not only did He save us from an eternal death, He has given us eternal life.
Jesus was born to die
for me
while i spat in His face.
and that…
is what makes Christmas so special to me.
Merry Christmas.
what makes Christmas special for you (if it is)?
______
this next part is a challenge for believers of Jesus or an opportunity for those who want to become Christ followers.
please just pray this very simple prayer this Christmas season…get alone…get quiet…and pray something like this:
thank you Jesus, for being born…to die…for me. please help me have a deeper understanding of this-every, single day…starting now. i love you. amen.
then just sit in silence & listen.
did you hear anything? if so, what?
if not, don’t get down; God doesn’t always respond in ways that we can hear at certain times in our life, but I promise that He is listening.
ltlo
Ronnie dude.. really… what a great post.
This was something that really had me thinking this year. That Christ came to save my life. He was my ultimate sacrifice.
for. me.