Ho, Ho, Ho it's that time of year again. The Christmas season brings twinkly lights, flying sleighs with reindeer, Christmas trees, Santa Clause, and a credit card maxed out with debt. Every now and then you'll hear, "Jesus is the reason for the season" even though the adversary would like to take Christ out of Christmas. I love the Christmas holiday season and I love gifts, the giving and getting of them and it always causes me to focus on the things God has given us and it didn't cost us anything, not one penny. That being said, let's take our candy canes and take a stroll down Bible Boulevard and look at some of the things God has freely given us!
Starting with the fall of man in Genesis, God decided to send a savior for the salvation of mankind, the savior would be His only begotten son.
Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Men and women carried Christ's lineage through the Old Testament, (the Red Thread), and one of the best things about it, they did it of their own free will.
Next up, the savior predicted in Genesis, Jesus Christ is born. Of His own free will, He lived a sinless life, fulfilled every letter of the law, died and was resurrected from the dead, ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God. He is our Meditator, our Intercessor, our Savior.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
God didn't stop there. He freely keeps on giving.
Before He ascends into heaven, Jesus Christ instructs His followers to tarry for the promise of the Father, a comforter and that would endue them with power.
Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. Acts 2:1-4 1And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Comfort and power, that's a two-for if we ever got one, not to mention the bonus of the nine manifestations that came with it, tongues, interpretation of tongues, prophecy, word of knowledge, word of wisdom, discerning of spirits, faith, miracles and gifts of healing. All of this is free; you accept it with your own free will. Are you seeing the pattern here? And by the way, God made it available to "anyone" who wants to have it. That's equality.
Ephesians 3:6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: 1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
You would think that would be enough, not for our heavenly father. He gave us all this and included instructions, He gave us His Word which He magnified above His name.
2 Timothy 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
God gave ministries in the Church to equip and edify us.
Ephesians 4:11-12 11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
There's another thing God has given us, the ministry of reconciliation as spoken by our living Lord and savior Jesus Christ.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Where are the uttermost parts of the earth, Audubon, King of Prussia, Schwenksville, Blackwood, Timbuktu (which by the way is in New Jersey) and anywhere else in the world. We are reconciled to God by Jesus Christ, then we as believers are to reconcile others to God.
2 Corinthians 5:17-19 17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
What does the word "reconcile" mean?
It means to bring back together that which has been separated. God has given us the ministry of bringing back to Him those people who have been removed, separated. Our responsibility is to tell the great opportunities every man has in Christ Jesus. We are to simply show forth the love of God, show people the blessings we have just read. We must demonstrate the power of God and manifest what a believer is in Christ, showing how great Christ is.
We have freely received, we need to freely give. We need to hold forth the Word of God in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, and shine as lights in the world.
Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Jesus Christ is not only the reason for the season, but for all eternity!