Inspirational Bible Verses

Why celebrate Christmas? Several years ago I remember saying to Daddy that Christmas is not about expensive gift giving. He was somewhat hopeful as he gently challenged me….”so what is Christmas all about?”  He hid his disappointment as I mumbled something to the effect of it being about spending quality time with family and friends. I knew what it should be about, but at that time it had little meaning to me. I loved the “cool” Christmas breeze in Jamaica. I looked forward to the “get-togethers” with family and friends. I looked forward to the cute Christmas plays depicting the birth of Jesus. I looked forward to the office parties that were so many in the month of December that we often had more than one to attend on a weekday night.  I loved the Jamaican traditional meals that would be sure to include ham flavored with brown sugar, mustard, cloves and pineapple, potato salad, gungo rice and peas. I loved the Christmas cakes and puddings.  I looked forward to drinking sorrel flavored with ginger. Who wouldn’t love Christmas?

Thank God by His grace I now celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.  Here is one of the many inspirational bible verses that give us a reason to celebrate Christmas.

“This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” 1 Tim 1:15

I am a sinner.  I have lied. I have looked at others with lust in my heart. I have not always honored my father and mother. I have not put God first and other things have taken His rightful place. Just by these few admissions, and believe me there are more, I have broken several of God’s commandments. My sin separated me from a holy God. No matter what good I did, how many good deeds or kind acts I did, these could never cancel the debt I owe for my sin.

The bible tells us that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) and that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ (Romans 6:23). This is what Jon Courson calls the “Great Switcheroo” - “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. “2 Corinthians 5:21. He came to pay a debt He didn’t owe because we owed a debt we couldn’t pay.

By repenting of my sin and accepting this gift, I am now reconciled to God. I have a new attitude toward sin. I no longer have a desire to sin. He gives me the strength to say “no” to sin, and when I do sin, if I confess He is faithful to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me of it. (1 John 1:9)

When I did this 8 years ago, I knew that I was making peace with God, and I knew that Jesus came into the world to save sinners. However I only knew a part of it. Jesus said that He came that we “may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10 b). I had absolutely no idea what depth He would add to my life. I had no idea that He would be my joy, my peace, my strength in difficult circumstances.  I tasted and indeed I saw that He is good.

Why do you celebrate Christmas? I hope that the following  inspirational bible verse has true meaning for you…”Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15)!