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Merry Christmas!!!!!
It’s that time of year again. The colder weather has started to come upon us (well, maybe not so much so in Houston). Families are planning their get-togethers for the Holiday Season. People are flocking to stores to purchase that special something for that special somebody. Christmas lights are proudly displayed around town while those never ending Christmas songs play through the air waves. It is a wonderful time of year. Let’s not forget the real reason for the season, though, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
I was listening to a preacher on the radio on the way home from work the other day and he was talking about Abraham. The portion of scripture he was using was when God told Abraham, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you” (Genesis 22:2).
Now, Isaac was the son that God promised Abraham in his old age. He was the seed that would make Abraham the father of many nations. Here was the one thing that was most precious to Abraham, and now God was asking him to give it away. When I think about this story, I always wonder, why would God do this? I don’t have any kids, but I’d have no problem sacrificing my brother Gabe. Just kidding, I’m only messing. I love my brother so much. I couldn’t foresee God asking me to do something like that.
I also ask myself, why would Abraham go through with it? I look at the life of Abraham in the Bible and he is known as a man of great faith. But his faith didn’t happen over night. His faith wasn’t always as strong in God as it was when God asked him to do this. He had instances where he failed to trust in God. Twice he lied that his wife was his sister in order to save his own life (Genesis 12:10-13 and Genesis 20:1-2). God was always there to get Abraham out of those situations, though. Time after time God came through for him, and his trust in God grew so strong, that even when God asked him to give away his son, he knew that God would come through again.
God asked Abraham to do this to test Abraham’s heart and also to foreshadow something He Himself would do. As we get ready to celebrate Christmas, think of the sacrifice God made for us. Like Abraham, He was willing to give up His only begotten Son. I think of how happy Abraham and Sarah were when they had a baby boy. I think of how the world rejoiced when Joseph and Mary also had a baby boy. His Name was Jesus.
We celebrate His birth every year around this time, but it is His death that gives us life. God’s sacrifice was born that Christmas day many years ago. Let us give thanks to God for the most precious gift of all and remember to “Put Him First” in all we do this Christmas.
“I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11).
We want to wish you all a safe and happy holiday season from PutHimFirst.com. Thank you for putting up with us all through 2006. We look forward to great and mighty things in 2007 and hope you’re along with us for the ride. I pray that each and every one of you continue to be blessed beyond what you can imagine. And, just a reminder, this will be my last column until 2007. See you next year!!!!!!!!
w/muchluv,
geno
Just in case it slipped your mind, I do accept late Christmas presents!!!!!!!!
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