Topic: The Good News of Christmas [RICK WARREN Devotional 17 December 2020]

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The Good News of Christmas

“There is only one God, and Christ Jesus is the only one who can bring us to God. Jesus was truly human, and he gave himself to rescue all of us.”

1 Timothy 2:5 (CEV)Christmas is all about Good News. But it’s not the good news of special gifts. It’s not the good news of a big meal. It’s not the good news of festive music and beautiful lights.

Christmas is about the Good News of God’s love.

The Bible says every person desperately needs God’s love. In fact, you’re lost without it. You’re directionless, without protection, and without real joy. Your potential eternal impact upon the world is unrealized. Your eternity in heaven isn’t secure.

The Good News of Christmas is that God sent Jesus to seek and save the lost. The Bible says, “There is only one God, and Christ Jesus is the only one who can bring us to God. Jesus was truly human, and he gave himself to rescue all of us” (1 Timothy 2:5 CEV).

If you’ve ever spent time in church, you’ve likely heard the word “salvation” many times. But you may not know what it means. The word is like a diamond; you can look at it from many different angles and still discover new facets. Salvation means:

• Jesus came to rescue you. You can’t solve all of your problems on your own. Without Jesus, you’re trapped in the expectations of others. You’re trapped in living for the approval of your peers. You’re trapped in addictions. You may try to change, but you don’t have the power needed to escape. Jesus came to give you that power.
• Jesus came to recover you. All people long to recover parts of their lives that have been lost. Without Christ, you long to recover your strength, your confidence, your reputation, your innocence, and your relationship with God. But only Jesus can do that.
• Jesus came to reconnect you. Many people think God will scold them if they come back to him. But God isn’t mad at you. He’s mad about you. In other words, his love for you is immeasurable. Jesus came to Earth on the first Christmas to reconcile you to God, to give you harmony with him again.

As you look around this Christmas, you’ll see plenty of good in the Christmas season. But remember that best of all is the Good News of God’s love. Through Jesus, you can experience rescue, recovery, and reconnection with God.

How can you experience rescue, recovery, and reconnection with God?
You don’t have to earn God’s love or work your way into heaven.

The Bible says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV).

If you haven’t trusted in Jesus and committed to following him, why wait any longer? If you’re ready to step across that line and make a decision to believe in Jesus Christ and follow him, pray this prayer:

“Dear Jesus, you have promised that if I believe in you, everything I’ve ever done wrong will be forgiven, I will learn the purpose of my life, and you will accept me into your eternal home in heaven one day.

“I confess my sin, and I believe that you are my Savior. I trust you when you say salvation comes by grace and through faith—not by anything I do. I receive you into my life as my Lord. Today I’m turning over every part of my life to your management. You have the right to call the shots in my life.

“I want to use the rest of my life to serve you instead of serving myself. I commit my life to you and ask you to save me and accept me into your family. In your name I pray. Amen.”

• Which of these facets of salvation—rescue, recovery, and reconnection—has been the most important in your relationship with God? Why?
• How is Jesus the Good News for you this Christmas? In what ways can you tell others about this Good News?
• What can you do to better celebrate Jesus’ birthday?

Give hope, prayer, and encouragement below. Post a comment & talk about it.