As the day we celebrate Christmas quickly approaches I get caught up in the “season.” I love bringing out all my big boxes of Christmas decorations, hanging garland, putting up a snow village, hanging wreathes, putting up the tree with over 1000 lights and at least 100 different Christmas ornaments. As my daughter puts it, “My Mom throws up Christmas all over the house!”
Yes, I admit it I LOVE decorating for Christmas!!!! – it is the one time of the year where I can SHOUT out that I know the REAL reason for the season.
Growing up my Dad would be outside hanging lights around the living room window and on the chain link fence and Mom would be putting up her plastic nativity set in the front yard. We would have a tree and Dad would put the lights on and the rest of the family would hang the ornaments and the tinsel – Oh Yes, tinsel and lots of it. Tree always seemed so huge to me as a little girl and I loved watching as the number of packages under the tree seemed to multiply daily!
Although I have very fond memories of Christmas, it was not until I was 18 years old that I understood the true reason for Christ’s birth thousands of years ago.
Jesus Christ came as a gift from God to everyone ever to live on this earth. Jesus came as a baby in a manger. He grew up and lived a sinless life, and died on the cross of Calvary to pay for the sins of the world. Jesus’ death was one of the most physically excruciation, gruesome, and humiliating deaths. He suffered not only physically but He took on Himself the sins of the world! Why would the God of the universe do that? Because He loved us, and knew that was the only way to for us to be saved.
Now when I put up my Christmas tree, the first ornament I hang on my tree is a metal nail to remind me of the greatest gift I will ever receive – the gift of eternal life.
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
I hope you will take a few minutes from your busy Christmas and thank God for the greatest gift we will ever receive – SALVATION!
The Story of the Christmas Nail
Every year on our Christmas tree, we hang a nail for all to see. A reminder of the nails of the manger where the Christ Child lay, and of those piercing His body as life drained away. A reminder of love in the green of the tree, the greatest gift that was given to you and me. Hanging brightly from its little red cord, the story of Jesus, our Savior, our Lord.
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