December 19, 2016

Regents Daily News:
December 19, 2016

Read This on Christmas Morning

Here, in an article called “Read This On Christmas Morning,” is a great Christ-centered suggestion from Paul David Tripp for your Christmas celebration. I hope it’s an encouragement to you!

I don’t know what your family traditions are, but I would hope that the reading of the Word of God is included on the agenda for Christmas Day. If it’s not, make this year the year to start a new tradition!

The Scripture passage that you’re about to read doesn’t immediately come to mind as a Christmas passage, but it’s one that should be included in every gathering. I’ll explain why, but for now, take a moment and let the words sink in:

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:31-39).

Why should you read this passage to your family on Christmas? Because Romans 8 reminds us what the Christmas story is all about, by defining the glorious result of the birth of Jesus.

What was the glorious result of Jesus’ birth? In a word – love. Think about it:

Jesus deserved to be loved, but he was rejected so that we, who deserve to be rejected, would be eternally loved by the Father.

Jesus subjected himself to the fickle and failing love of his followers so that we will know the faithful and unfailing love of the father.

Jesus experienced separation from the Father so that nothing could ever separate us from the Father’s love.

This Christmas, remind yourself and your family that hope is only found in how much you’ve been loved by Jesus. It will be tempting to look for hope in the gifts that you receive or in the gifts that you give or in the people that you celebrate Christmas with, but those gifts will get old, your generosity will wrestle with your selfishness, and the people who say they love you will find a way to disappoint you once again.

The only hope that you have this Christmas is in the love that God has for you. Husbands, you won’t love your wife like you’re supposed to. Wives, you won’t love your husbands like you’re supposed to. Brothers and sisters, you won’t love your siblings like you’re supposed to. Parents, you won’t love your kids like you’re supposed to. Kids, you won’t love your parents like you’re supposed to. But God will always love you perfectly.

Christmas Day is a celebration of how much God loves us. Don’t miss out on an opportunity to share that Good News. Remind yourself and your family to fix your eyes on Jesus and celebrate that there’s eternal, life-changing hope for you!

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