The Reason for the Season To us Filipinos, Christmas is one of the most important and most anticipated time of the year whereby families, relatives and friends travel and come together, even from faraway places, just to celebrate together the season with a grand reunion, enjoying food, drinks and each others company. Paskong Pinas is like no other in the world. But this is not true for many people in the other part of the world. Some see Christmas as a once a year business opportunity. They call it a holiday season. Some Christian denominations do not celebrate Christmas because they say that this has a pagan origin that refers to the birth of the son of the sun god. Some say that Jesus was not born on December 25. Some just plainly do not believe that Jesus Christ is real and He once walked the earth. Whatever people think or do during Christmas does change the truth as written in Gods Word about Jesus. Luke 19:10 says For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” But who are the lost? We all are. Isaiah 53:6 says We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Yes, everyone of us are lost because we insisted to do things our way and go on our own way drifting away from God. In simple term, we disobeyed God and sinned against Him. We are lost and cannot find our way back to God. So God has to send His only Son Jesus Christ to look for us and save us. Jesus, as the Good Shepherd, was sent to earth to seek the lost sheep and save them. In order to save us, Jesus the Good Shepherd has to sacrifice His body and life on the cross for us, the lost sheep. In John 10:11, Jesus says “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. Why does Jesus have to lay His life down for the lost sheep. Because Jesus has to take our place on the cross. There, He took the full punishment for all of our sins. Go back to the 2nd part of Isaiah 53:6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. How can we be found by Jesus? John 10:3 to 5 states The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” While some of us are lost and away from God but we do not realize this, some know that we are lost but want to be found by Jesus but do not know how this can be done. We must surrender ourselves, all that we are, to Jesus and acknowledge Him as our Good Shepherd, our Lord and Savior. We believe in our hearts that He will and have saved us with His sacrifice on the cross. Then we will be His sheep and we will know His voice when calls and follow Him wherever He goes. If you sincerely desire to be found by Jesus and belong to Him, our Good Shepherd, Savior and Lord, please say this prayer from your heart: Dear Heavenly Father Loving God. Thank you for sending Jesus to die on the cross for me and paying fully for my sins. I confess and turn away from all my sins and seek your forgiveness through Jesus Christ whom I acknowledge as my Good Shepherd, my Lord and my Savior. From this day, I surrender fully my life to Jesus and follow Him, I will listen to His voice and obey all of His command. Thank you for your love and grace. In Jesus Name I pray. AMEN. If you prayed this prayer, we welcome you in to the herd of sheep of Jesus. We can be assured of His protection and care. However, we must always listen to the voice of Jesus and follow Him. John 10:28-29 says 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. Thank you very much for taking time to read this. For those who prayed the prayer, I want you to know this truth from Luke 15:8: I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. Yes, the angels in heaven are rejoicing and celebrating with Jesus for you becoming additional sheep of Jesus Christ. Let us join our hearts and spirit to joyfully celebrate and rejoice the birth of Jesus Christ, our Good Shepherd, our Lord and our Savior. Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. https://youtube/watch?v=WdUkGVjtKgk
Posted on: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 12:13:39 +0000
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