The Gift of Hope

As I write this, Christmas is but a few days away.

Over the years the celebration of Christmas has grown.

This is particularly true from a secular point of view.

At times it appears that the secular celebration of Christmas has overtaken the spiritual.

I plan to celebrate Christmas with church services and gatherings with family and friends.

We observe Christmas as a time when God became man and dwelt among us.

In the rather short time Jesus walked among us He did many things.

He healed the sick.

He raised the dead.

He did many other things as well.

We call these things signs and miracles.

They say to the world that Jesus is exactly who He is; the Son of God.

Christmas is a celebration of the beginning of that journey.

While celebrations like Christmas grow in popularity others see a decline.

This is especially true when it comes to Easter which is only weeks away.

I think it is safe to say that far more people celebrate Christmas than observe Easter.

This is unfortunate.

We must never forget that His earthly journey had an end as well as a beginning.

It was a journey that led to a cross and an empty tomb beyond it.

That first Christmas, God gave man a very special gift

He gave us His Son.

At the end of that journey, God gave man another gift.

He gave us the gift of hope.

1 Peter 1:3-6 (NET) - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he gave us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, that is, into an inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. It is reserved in heaven for you, who by God’s power are protected through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. This brings you great joy, although you may have to suffer for a short time in various trials.

I hope you are able to celebrate Christmas with church and family and friends.

I also hope you can stick around for the rest of the story.

For therein lies real hope for us all.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, January 5, 2018.

I will be back here on Friday, January 12, 2018