He came…to save sinners

It is difficult to believe that Christmas day is almost upon us!  It is easy to get caught up in all of the places to go and the things to do that we breeze right through the month of December, at least I’m feeling that way this year!  There are certainly some sights and sounds that are welcome back each year, and others that I could personally do without e.g.- Porky Pig singing “Blue Christmas” (although it was very amusing to watch my Dad hear that for the first time).  For some, Christmas brings fond memories and time with family and friends,  for others memories of pain and feelings of loneliness.  Regardless of your feelings about the festivities surrounding Christmastime, there is one very important aspect of the holiday that it is crucial you do not miss: God sending His only Son (Jesus) to earth to live in the midst of sinners, yet without sinning, so that He could be the perfect sacrifice to make peace between God and man.  I don’t know the exact month or day of the birth of Jesus (although I’m sure there are some scholarly opinions), but I do know that without this event in history there would be no peace, no redemption, no life beyond this world.  If you are having a difficult time finding something to rejoice in this year, rejoice in the saving work of Jesus Christ.  “He came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost”.

Luke 2:1-20

 ¹ In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. ² This was the first registration whenQuirinius was governor of Syria. ³ And all went to be registered, each to his own town. ⁴ And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, ⁵ to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. ⁶ And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. ⁷And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. ⁸ And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. ¹⁰ And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” ¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

 ¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest,
   and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

 ¹⁵ When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶ And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. ¹⁷ And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. ¹⁸ And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. ²⁰ And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.