Neville Turley

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.  Psalm 136:1 (NIV)

Wherever we are, we are reminded that Christmas 2019 is almost upon us. The malls are decorated and teeming with festival promotions. Shops are tempting us with Christmas specials.

It is the time of the year when pine trees, festooned with Christmas lights and glittering decorations, are set up in lounges throughout the land.

“What are you doing for Christmas?” becomes the most frequently asked question when people meet.

Christmas is a highlight in the Christian calender however, Christmas became a reality long before the Christ child was born. The origin of Christmas began in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve had succumbed to the temptation of the devil who had come to them in the form of a snake. God was righteously angry. He cursed the devil and punished Adam and Eve severely. (Genesis 3:14-18)

However, although God cursed the devil, he did not curse Adam and Eve. Even as God cursed the devil – “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” (Genesis 3:15) - God held out hope for humankind.

The hope that God held out was the promise of Christ. He would be born of a woman. Yes, Christ would suffer. Satan would strike his heel but in the end Jesus would overcome him and crush his head.

Good will triumph over evil. Sin will be conquered by the promised Christ.

What a loving God we serve, for even when disciplining humankind, he throws out a lifeline of hope to each and every one of us. His only son is the eternal lifeline God gives us to cling to. We may be drowning in a morass of sin but if we reach out to our Lord Jesus Christ, he will save and restore us.

Rescued, healed, restored, forgiven; we will rule with him for all eternity. That knowledge should have our hearts ringing with joy and thanksgiving as we celebrate Christmas 2019. 

Prayer: Oh Lord, thank you that your love is so great that you gave your one and only son that we should not perish but through him inherit eternal life. Through the power of the Holy Spirit enable us to lead lives pleasing to you. Amen