The True Santa Claus 1,700 years ago the true Santa Claus, St. Nicholas, did live this way. Born in modern day Turkey and orphaned at the age of nine, he gave gifts in secret to the poor and needy. He had compassion for the hurting. He cared for children. He became a priest to share the “good news of great joy that will be for all the people…a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11). He stood for his faith in Jesus even though it meant persecution and jail. As a bishop he served on the Council of Nicea and asserted the same Christian beliefs that had come under attack and put him in jail. The “Kneeling Santa” ornament has it right. Today, St. Nicholas is in heaven because he trusted in Jesus Christ who died on the cross and rose from the dead to conquer sin and death. He’s there in the “Great Cloud of Witnesses,” along with the other heroes of our faith (those written about in the Bible and those written into our own histories), cheering us on as we now carry the baton in the relay race of faith (Hebrews 12:1). This Christmas season, let’s celebrate the birth of Jesus in our hearts and in our world as St. Nicholas did. Let’s carry on the true Santa’s Christmas ministry of sharing blessings with others in Jesus’ name. Reprinted with permission from Christian Soul Care Devotion © 2003, 2010
Posted on: Wed, 04 Dec 2013 18:07:07 +0000
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