“The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Timothy 1: 15-17
It says it all right here. Jesus came to save sinners and we, just like Paul, are the chief among them.
The reason for the season.
The coming! He came….for us!
Advent is the coming of the precious, undeserved gift that the God of the Universe gave to each of us. He did. He handed it to us in a sweet little manger and He whispers to us, “I came to set you free. I came to win you back, and to always, always love you.”
Let that sink in. Sit with it for a moment. Take a breath and think about what God really gave you this Christmas. Yes, it is so easy to skip over it, make light of it, for it to get lost in the midst of the mayhem of the busyness. But don’t let it. Drink it in. This Advent we remember. He came for YOU.
And this coming is just the beginning. It points us to the Cross. It points us to mercy {verse 16}. But it doesn’t leave us there.
It points us there for a purpose. We, like Paul, can display Christ to a watching world. We are image bearers! We are salt and light. We are the light that you can’t hide under a bushel.
So this season, in the midst of the hype and hoopla, let the world hear us loud and clear, praising together, saying,
“To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen!!”
Let it ring out of your heart with gratefulness for what has been done for you. Let it soar from your lips in your home, the grocery store, the parties, and everywhere. Let us be a people who recognize the mercy that has been given us, and people who can’t wait to tell that Story.
Merry CHRISTmas from Uganda,
Merry Christmas Joy! An accepted faithful saying…Christ has come into this world for me. I will sing along with you and all the angels in heaven…Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God Almighty; “Who was and is and is to come!
Joy, I am curious how Christmas looks in Uganda. How does it compare to the US? My boys are now teenagers and I know we’ve overindulged them throughout the years. At this point I struggle with how to ‘dial it back’. How do your children celebrate in Uganda?
Amen Jesus has set us free Glory to all forever and ever
Merry Christmas Joy!!!!
Thank you for your message today! I wanted to tell you that our church had the honor of hosting the African Childrens Choir which I think is based in Uganda? They were such a blessing!
Again, thank you for your faithfulness to this ministry…you are a true Joy!
A very Merry Christmas to you & your family. Thank you for all you do for us through Christ! He is a mighty God. Many blessings in the new year!
Merry Christmas Joy! I will share this precious message tonight with the ladies at the prison where I serve. Thank you. Blessings!
Merry Christmas Joy. Thankyou for these wonderful words. Such a precious gift, He came for me! Love these words and I will hold and ponder them today. Blessed beyond measure.
I do early intervention therapy so I work with families in their homes. As Christmas is approaching I’ve been asking the families if they’re looking forward to Christmas and how they celebrate. I’ve been saddened by the number who’ve said ‘it’s just another day’ or ‘ we don’t celebrate because we don’t believe in Jesus’ or they just don’t have happy memories of Christmas. I just realized how hopeless so many feel and are bc they’ve not embraced that Jesus came for them.
It’s made me so grateful for the faithful legacy of Christ I grew up in, the overflowing box of special Christmas memories I have and am making with my family now, and the eternal hope I have in Jesus. I pray I can be contagious and make them curious so that they may want that hope too.
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