“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
You know how life at times can seem “lite,” pointless, without real meaning? Even at Christmas, we can go through all the motions, but life can still lack depth. Jesus wants to give us a more meaningful, abundant life.
Secondly, he came to offer us a genuine relationship with himself. “He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave the power to become the children of God.”
To be honest, a lot of people try to approach God the wrong way. They try to earn God’s acceptance by living a “good” life. And then they reason with him. “God, I’ve tried to be a good person. I’ve tried to be kind and generous. I’ve gone to church. I’ve prayed. And I’ve never murdered or cheated anybody.” Sounds good.
But Jesus said we need to know what his standards are. Just how good a life would we have to live? Jesus said,
“You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Well, let’s be brave and see how perfect we are. Imagine trying for an entire day to be… patient. I’d have to skip the coffee and settle into a near coma. But let’s assume you’re alert and you’re going to be patient in all circumstances for one entire day. You’ll be patient with customers, other employees, your boss, patient in traffic, patient with your family.
Let’s pretend you tried so hard, and you actually were patient all day. Wouldn’t it irritate you that the people around you were so impatient? If I were concentrating that hard on being patient, I know I’d be very self-righteous and judgmental toward all those other rude, impatient people. And my self-righteous attitude also would not line up with God’s standard of perfection. The Bible says we sin…no surprise to me.
But what did surprise me is that the Bible says my sin has separated me from God. It’s like an impenetrable wall. The Bible says,
“The wages (payment) for sin is death.”
Number one on Jesus’ agenda for coming to earth was to pay for our sin. The Bible says, “By this, we know love, that he laid down his life for us….”
It’s like the woman who was arrested on a drunk-driving charge. The judge ruled, “thirty days or $1,500 bail.” As she was agonizing over this, the judge stepped around to the front of the bench, pulled out his chequebook and paid the $1500 fine. Why? The judge was this woman’s father. As an honest judge, he couldn’t overlook his daughter’s guilt. But as a loving father, he paid the penalty for her.
If we could have gained a relationship with God based on our living a good life, Jesus didn’t need to come to earth and he didn’t need to die on a cross for us. But out of tremendous love for us, Jesus was tortured, whipped, nailed to a cross and died of slow suffocation. Three days later he rose from the dead. Having done so, he now offers us complete forgiveness and a relationship with him.
I used to think having a relationship with God is something that just “happens” to a person or it doesn’t…like winning the lottery or being struck by lightning. But actually, it’s a personal decision.
God offers us a relationship with himself, and it’s our decision whether or not to respond to his offer. Jesus put it simply,
“I stand at the door (of your life) and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him….”
When we respond to his offer and ask him to come into our lives, we begin a relationship with God that lasts eternally. The Bible says,
“I write this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.”
Whatever is going on in your world this Christmas, there is no greater gift you could give yourself than to receive the One who came to earth for us. He offers you complete forgiveness, a relationship with Him, a more abundant and eternal life. As long as we trust in ourselves, our own good life, God will remain distant, and we remain separated from him by our sin. He asks us to empty our hands of our efforts and receive him and his gift.
I’d like to give you the opportunity right now to ask him to come into your life. There is no greater offer, nor more important decision you could make in your life. Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him….”
I’ll help you put this into words. You could say to him,
“Jesus, thank you for dying for my sins. Right now I open the door and ask you to come into my life. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me an eternal relationship with you.”
Unlike other possible relationships, if you asked Jesus into your life right now, he promises never to leave you. Jesus said, (speaking of us as his sheep), “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand.”
I found that one of the best ways to get to know him better was to read the gospel of John, which is the fourth book of the New Testament, in Bible. You’ll be amazed. It seemed like he was speaking straight to me, answering my questions, like an intimate chat over coffee. Also, you might find it helpful to look for a church where the Bible is taught.
There is no greater joy at Christmas than coming into a relationship with Jesus. Too many times we have worn ourselves out, driven by our expectations to have the “perfect” Christmas. It’s a set-up for disappointment.
All of the shopping, decorating, entertaining never fully meet our deepest longings. For Christmas to be special, we simply need to receive Jesus’ gift to us…a relationship with him. Knowing him brings great meaning and enjoyment at Christmas, no matter who knocks over the Christmas tree.
~~~~~
Would you like to know Jesus?
You can have peace and find hope and know forgiveness through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
You can receive Christ right now by faith through prayer. Praying is simply talking to God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. Here’s a suggested prayer:
Lord Jesus, I want to know You personally. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life to You and ask You to come in as my Saviour and Lord. Take control of my life. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Bring peace to my world this Christmas. Make me the kind of person You want me to be.
If this prayer expresses the desire of your heart, pray it right now and Christ will come into your life as He promised. If you invited Jesus Christ into your life, thank God often that He is in your life, that He will never leave you and that you have eternal life.
Expectant joy
Why did Jesus come to earth?
Jesus said,
“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
You know how life at times can seem “lite,” pointless, without real meaning? Even at Christmas, we can go through all the motions, but life can still lack depth. Jesus wants to give us a more meaningful, abundant life.
Secondly, he came to offer us a genuine relationship with himself. “He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave the power to become the children of God.”
To be honest, a lot of people try to approach God the wrong way. They try to earn God’s acceptance by living a “good” life. And then they reason with him. “God, I’ve tried to be a good person. I’ve tried to be kind and generous. I’ve gone to church. I’ve prayed. And I’ve never murdered or cheated anybody.” Sounds good.
But Jesus said we need to know what his standards are. Just how good a life would we have to live? Jesus said,
“You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Well, let’s be brave and see how perfect we are. Imagine trying for an entire day to be… patient. I’d have to skip the coffee and settle into a near coma. But let’s assume you’re alert and you’re going to be patient in all circumstances for one entire day. You’ll be patient with customers, other employees, your boss, patient in traffic, patient with your family.
Let’s pretend you tried so hard, and you actually were patient all day. Wouldn’t it irritate you that the people around you were so impatient? If I were concentrating that hard on being patient, I know I’d be very self-righteous and judgmental toward all those other rude, impatient people. And my self-righteous attitude also would not line up with God’s standard of perfection. The Bible says we sin…no surprise to me.
But what did surprise me is that the Bible says my sin has separated me from God. It’s like an impenetrable wall. The Bible says,
“The wages (payment) for sin is death.”
Number one on Jesus’ agenda for coming to earth was to pay for our sin. The Bible says, “By this, we know love, that he laid down his life for us….”
It’s like the woman who was arrested on a drunk-driving charge. The judge ruled, “thirty days or $1,500 bail.” As she was agonizing over this, the judge stepped around to the front of the bench, pulled out his chequebook and paid the $1500 fine. Why? The judge was this woman’s father. As an honest judge, he couldn’t overlook his daughter’s guilt. But as a loving father, he paid the penalty for her.
If we could have gained a relationship with God based on our living a good life, Jesus didn’t need to come to earth and he didn’t need to die on a cross for us. But out of tremendous love for us, Jesus was tortured, whipped, nailed to a cross and died of slow suffocation. Three days later he rose from the dead. Having done so, he now offers us complete forgiveness and a relationship with him.
I used to think having a relationship with God is something that just “happens” to a person or it doesn’t…like winning the lottery or being struck by lightning. But actually, it’s a personal decision.
God offers us a relationship with himself, and it’s our decision whether or not to respond to his offer. Jesus put it simply,
“I stand at the door (of your life) and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him….”
When we respond to his offer and ask him to come into our lives, we begin a relationship with God that lasts eternally. The Bible says,
“I write this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.”
Whatever is going on in your world this Christmas, there is no greater gift you could give yourself than to receive the One who came to earth for us. He offers you complete forgiveness, a relationship with Him, a more abundant and eternal life. As long as we trust in ourselves, our own good life, God will remain distant, and we remain separated from him by our sin. He asks us to empty our hands of our efforts and receive him and his gift.
I’d like to give you the opportunity right now to ask him to come into your life. There is no greater offer, nor more important decision you could make in your life. Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him….”
I’ll help you put this into words. You could say to him,
“Jesus, thank you for dying for my sins. Right now I open the door and ask you to come into my life. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me an eternal relationship with you.”
Unlike other possible relationships, if you asked Jesus into your life right now, he promises never to leave you. Jesus said, (speaking of us as his sheep), “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand.”
I found that one of the best ways to get to know him better was to read the gospel of John, which is the fourth book of the New Testament, in Bible. You’ll be amazed. It seemed like he was speaking straight to me, answering my questions, like an intimate chat over coffee. Also, you might find it helpful to look for a church where the Bible is taught.
There is no greater joy at Christmas than coming into a relationship with Jesus. Too many times we have worn ourselves out, driven by our expectations to have the “perfect” Christmas. It’s a set-up for disappointment.
All of the shopping, decorating, entertaining never fully meet our deepest longings. For Christmas to be special, we simply need to receive Jesus’ gift to us…a relationship with him. Knowing him brings great meaning and enjoyment at Christmas, no matter who knocks over the Christmas tree.
~~~~~
Would you like to know Jesus?
You can have peace and find hope and know forgiveness through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
You can receive Christ right now by faith through prayer. Praying is simply talking to God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. Here’s a suggested prayer:
Lord Jesus, I want to know You personally. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life to You and ask You to come in as my Saviour and Lord. Take control of my life. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Bring peace to my world this Christmas. Make me the kind of person You want me to be.
If this prayer expresses the desire of your heart, pray it right now and Christ will come into your life as He promised. If you invited Jesus Christ into your life, thank God often that He is in your life, that He will never leave you and that you have eternal life.