Please visit Spiritual Sundays to read more about how God is working in so many of His children's lives. Thank you to sisters Charlotte and Ginger for hosting this special place. Merry Christmas to all of you and remember the "reason" why Jesus came.
The middle-aged inmate walked in, clutching his stomach. Prior to his arrival, the unit called and said that he was having trouble breathing. But the unit where he came from was far from the Infirmary. If he made it all the way down to the Clinic with steady gait, all of us knew, he wasn’t having trouble breathing at all.
He sat there, appearing like he was sobbing. But when he thought no one was there [he didn’t know we were observing him], he sat calmly on the bench and watched the tv, hoisted up in a corner of one of the walls.
The charge nurse summoned him to come to the big glass window.
“What’s wrong?”, she asked.
“Ma’am, I’m having a severe stomach pain,” he replied with his eyes closed.
“Open your eyes!” yelled the charge nurse. To which he opened his eyes immediately.
He didn’t know, right there, we already knew that he wasn’t in pain. Because if he was not able to open his eyes, then, he was truly having a big discomfort. We noticed, too that his complaint changed from having shortness of breath to stomach pain then. He had a history of heroin abuse.
“I am looking at you,” he uttered. But his eyelids kept opening and closing.
“Just open your eyes so you can see! There is no bright light that can hurt your vision,” commanded the charge nurse.
“The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means God with us.” ~ Matthew 1:23 [NIV]
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” ~ John 3:16,17 [NIV]
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” ~ John 14:6 [NIV]
“Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” ~ Hebrews 12:2 [AMP]
When Moses had a meeting with God inside a tent, God told him that he wouldn’t be able to look at His face and live [Exodus 33:20]. So, same with us. None of us are able to see God, first, because sins separate us from Him and that none of our own efforts can restore that broken relationship we have with Him. Man’s religions can not make us go to heaven and be with God. God knows we are hurting but we are walking in this life’s journey with eyes closed. And that’s what He did…He gave the Best Gift to mankind so we can be saved. God’s love came down to earth. This is the reason we must rejoice, not only on Christmas Day but in every day of our lives.
This Christmas, open your eyes so you can see that Gift! God sent His Son Jesus as the Light that we are able to look at. If only we open our eyes and focus on Jesus. Focus on the reason why he came here to live with men. Focus on his ways to be our example of how to be and who to be, not anyone else on earth. Focus on his death on the cross. Focus on his resurrection.
Yes, we are that reason why God sent Jesus...Because He loves us all.
30 DAYS OF THANKSGIVING - 14
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