I went and visited a prisoner in Leon County jail this weekend. This man served 22 years for a crime he didn’t commit and was finally exonerated by DNA evidence. He was paid something like one and a half million dollars as restitution. After he got out of prison he allegedly got into a gunfight with some street thug and ended up right back in the slammer and is currently awaiting a bond hearing.
I went there to try and cheer him up for Christmas and to talk about Jesus. During our conversation he told me that his payment for all of that time in prison amounted to about six dollars a day. That’s not much money for serving a lifetime in violent prisons like Raiford and Polk.
I reminded him that Jesus Christ took the punishment for the entire world’s sins. And He did it voluntarily. He took our places on the cross and died a horrific death and He received absolutely no compensation.
He did it because He loved us.
Today is Christmas Eve and the world will celebrate His birth…Or will they? Hmmm…More likely that they will celebrate mythical Santa Claus and each other by giving gifts galore.
I see nothing wrong with allowing kids to believe in Santa and observe them wake up all wild eyed and tear into their gifts underneath the tree, or in exchanging gifts with each other within reasonable limits, but I do believe children should be taught the real reason for the season in the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ and we should do the same.
If you are among those who acquiesce to saying Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas in an ignorant display of political correctness, shame on you! Jesus suffered mightily in order that we might live, and we shouldn’t “X” His Holy name out of the season that supposedly celebrates His birth.
Thank Him, love Him, respect Him, and follow Him, and not the world.
The world is passing away and all that is in it, but Jesus Christ will reign forever in glory. Those of us who will be there with Him in heaven will be there because He voluntarily took the terrible punishment for our sins and ONLY for that reason.
Think about it today and I’m sure that you (like me) will be down on your knees thanking God for allowing the birth of His only Son Jesus Christ over 2000 years ago to become our Messiah. Christmas is a celebration of His birth. The birthday gift that He wants is our unswerving faith. Exchanging gifts among ourselves instead, seems just a trifle inappropriate to me…
Merry Christmas!
Luke 2:11
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.