Good Shepherd Lutheran

What a Gift!
Christmas is when we remember that God came close. We were in trouble and even though we were created to be with Him, our hearts had moved far away. There was a barrier between us and our Creator, and that night He took a huge step toward breaking it down.
If a couple thousand years of Jewish history teaches us anything, it’s that the answer wasn’t going to be found in our own efforts to be better. God took a big step toward us by coming to live with us, show us the way, and remove that barrier through his death on the cross. It’s not about being good; it’s about being near to God through Jesus!
I know that some of us go to Christmas Eve Service because it’s expected or required. You know what I mean. Your Grandma said everyone has to go to church if they want to be able to open presents, so you came. If that’s where you find yourself and you’d rather we’d just get done with all the religious stuff, I get it.
And I know there might be a reason. I know that in the past some Christians or churches may have given you a reason to consider shutting out the story of Christmas. But this story isn’t about any one church. It’s about a relationship with God. It’s about love, life, and freedom. If you’ve already made up your mind to shut out the story, please give it a chance. Please take another look and reconsider. Try to look beyond everything you’ve heard about Jesus and everything you’ve seen people do in the name of Jesus, and just try to find out for yourself who Jesus is.
God sent His Son because you’re important to Him. If God had a wallet, He’d be carrying your picture around in it. So, He made a plan to restore His relationship with you and that plan began with a baby in a manger.
It’s amazing to think that many of the specific predictions about Jesus’s birth and death were recorded hundreds, or even thousands, of years before He was born. Through the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, the prophets knew we needed a Savior, and they predicted His coming. But we aren’t just talking about an event that happened 2,000 years ago. We’re talking about something that’s happening right now, and we need to decide how we’re going to respond to it.
Your response is a gift more precious to God than gold, or frankincense, or myrrh. You can bring a wonderful gift to God just by allowing Him even more space in your heart. So, exchange gifts with your amazing Creator this Christmas. Give Him your heart and He’ll give you the Son who brings eternal life. What a gift!
Join us at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 150 Lewis Ct., C. J., at 7 pm on Christmas Eve for our Candlelight Christmas Eve Service. Have a blessed Christmas!