A few days ago we celebrated Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ. While He more than likely was born in late winter/early spring, this time of the year was chosen to represent His birth.
Jesus coming to Earth was the greatest gift that mankind could ever experience. He was vulnerable when He was younger, He was exposed to the same temptations as every other human, He taught us how to live our lives, He became sin so that man has a chance to be saved, He died on the cross and was risen on the third day, He ascended to sit at the right hand of God, and He will return sometime in the future.
Think about this:
One man sinned against God and because of this one sin, all of mankind was cursed.
Romans 3:23 New International Version (NIV)
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
God gives us a way to be saved and spend eternity in Heaven versus Hell.
John 3:16 New International Version (NIV)
16 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.
Jesus is tempted just like we are.
Matthew 4:1 New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness
4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
Jesus resists the devils temptations
Matthew 4:2-11New International Version (NIV)
2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Jesus came here to teach us and to show us how to live
John 13:13 New International Version (NIV)
13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am.
Jesus was sinless
1 Peter 2:21-22 New International Version (NIV)
21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
22 “He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
Jesus died for me and He died for you
Romans 5:8 New International Version (NIV)
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
I know many celebrate Christmas that are not Christian and the governments have tried to secularize this special day, but it is up to each one of us to stand up for what is right. We who call ourselves Christian need to start acting that way. I am just as guilty as anyone else who calls themselves a Christian, but is not acting in a Christlike manner.
This is not an easy task for lets face it, people are generally a pain in the rear. You will find yourself dealing with people who are not very friendly, who make it difficult for anyone to like them, who are very selfish, etc. God did not call each of us to like these people, but to love them. I know that is sort of an old cliche: I love you, but I do not like you very much right now; however, that is the way we should be everyday.
The choice is yours, you can be hateful back to those that are hateful towards you, or you can love them regardless. You can be selfish towards those that are selfish towards others or you can love them. You can walk up and give a person a piece of your mind or you can love them. I could continue to go on and on, but I think you get the picture. Love them until they ask you why and that is a quote from my Pastor. Understand this, sometimes love requires a person to be harsh, but it is how it is delivered that makes all the difference in the world.
So I will ask you this one simple question: Will you be of the world or in the world? Go read John 17:16. If you chose to be in the world, then you will have a hard time living the way Christ wants you to live for you will be guided by the flesh. However, the choice is yours.