Thursday, December 21, 2006
Why did He come?
Why did He come? Why did Jesus Christ, the Son of God, leave His kingly throne in Heaven and come to Earth? Being of God and indeed God Himself, Jesus knew very well what was in store for Him when He came down from glory to the pain and disappointment that this world has to offer. He knew that Herod would try and have Him hunted down after He was born…knew his own earthly family would run Him out of town…knew that one of His twelve would betray Him…knew that the very people who laid down their palm fronds and cloaks, would just a week later scream for His crucifixion. Could He have called a legion of Angels to come to His aide when the whip was literally ripping His flesh from His back? Yes, He could have. Could He have, with but a simple command, opened everyone’s eyes to the fact that He was God come to Earth? Do not doubt it for a second.
Why then? Why with the foreknowledge that He had, would He allow Himself to be treated so cruelly? Six small words: ‘For God so loved the world…’ There is not one thing that you or I can do or have done to deserve that perfect love. Isaiah 64:6 says: ‘All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.’ And yet He came so that you might live and the sacrifice He provided is a gift. Ephesians 2:8-9 says this: ‘For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.’ This was Amy favorite verse; she had copied it carefully on a piece of printer paper and posted it on our refrigerator. Such a simple gesture, the giving of a gift, but in the giving there is always sacrifice. The other thing about gifts is that they aren’t earned. As Ephesians says above, it’s not by works…it’s not that we deserve it (because we don’t!)…It’s a gift freely given, but as with anything that’s offered, we do have to accept it.
As Christmas approaches, please seriously contemplate the gift that was given some 2000 years ago and the sacrifice He provided 33 years later…wont you accept His gift?
For the love of Amy - V
Why then? Why with the foreknowledge that He had, would He allow Himself to be treated so cruelly? Six small words: ‘For God so loved the world…’ There is not one thing that you or I can do or have done to deserve that perfect love. Isaiah 64:6 says: ‘All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.’ And yet He came so that you might live and the sacrifice He provided is a gift. Ephesians 2:8-9 says this: ‘For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.’ This was Amy favorite verse; she had copied it carefully on a piece of printer paper and posted it on our refrigerator. Such a simple gesture, the giving of a gift, but in the giving there is always sacrifice. The other thing about gifts is that they aren’t earned. As Ephesians says above, it’s not by works…it’s not that we deserve it (because we don’t!)…It’s a gift freely given, but as with anything that’s offered, we do have to accept it.
As Christmas approaches, please seriously contemplate the gift that was given some 2000 years ago and the sacrifice He provided 33 years later…wont you accept His gift?
For the love of Amy - V
# posted by Vince @ 11:02 PM 
