What is it about this “God baby”, born in a manger 2,000 years ago that inspires Christians to worship and incites the world to hate? The world doesn't understand the connection between the lowly birth in a manger and the brutal death on the cross.
The reason God created ‘us’ was to have a relationship with Him! Because of sin, mankind had lost our relationship with God. We celebrate the birth of Christ, but that was only a small part of the plan; a plan that had been made since the beginning of time. (II Timothy 1:8-10)
Christmas and Easter aren't about gifts and candy, a bearded fat man and a cute bunny. They are about a plan that spans eternity to restore a relationship that had been lost. (Romans 5:8) Jesus gave His life, the perfect sacrifice, so that we could know God personally.
This is how great God’s love for “me” is, that He willingly gave His only son so that “I” could have intimacy with Him. (John 3:16) Prophesied about for hundreds of years; Christ’s birth is the day that His plan for restoring relationship with His children would be revealed to mankind. (Galatians 4:3-6)
It's easy to get wrapped up in the holiday moment; but let's remember to look beyond the “baby in the manger” and "the brutal death on the cross" and see the eternal consequences of what was done. (I Peter 3:18a)
It wasn't about the birth or the death, it's about the cost of sin and the payment that was made. It was about ME; forgiveness for my sins; so I can have an intimate relationship with my Lord. None of it is about religion, it’s about restoring relationship with God.
Philippians 2: 8-11 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
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