Dear readers,
Winter weather appears to have come to stay. We did get a small amount of snow over the weekend, but not enough to create problems. As of this writing, it is cold, but warmer temps are forecast for this week. The big event on most the minds of many is the Christmas holiday just around the corner.
In this Christmas season, I encourage you to look beyond the manger in Bethlehem to the cross of Calvary. The birth of the Savior is worthy of celebration, but the reason for His coming is a greater cause for celebration. When He came, it was into a world tainted by sin. His purpose in coming was to pay the sin-debt of every person ever born. This is the gift of God to those who would understand they were sinners and had nothing to offer that would pay that debt. As is often quoted, “We owed a debt we could not pay, and He paid a debt He did not owe.”
The penalty for our sin was paid at Calvary, when Jesus died on that cross. The proof of that payment was shown in His resurrection. The story began in a manger and ended on a cross. Because of that fact, our salvation is sure. Our responsibility is not to work our way to heaven, but to accept the gift of salvation that Christ has provided to us.
I’m reminded of the chorus of an old song:
“From the manger to the cross, the rugged cross of Calvary
The road that Jesus walked for you and me all alone
By the world forsaken still He shed His blood for me
From the manger to the cross the rugged cross of Calvary.”
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).
The baby in the manger grew to be the Man who opened the way for us to have eternal life. As the apostle Paul wrote, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15).
As we celebrate Christmas, let us also give God glory for being our Lord and Savior.
Because He lives,
Pastor Jerry
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