A Christmas Miracle
Terry and Peggy partook of a delicious dinner that evening, and over and over Terry prayed, "Thank you, God; thank you, God!" For the moment she forgot she still had no job, no money for the rent, and only $15 in her purse. Laughing happily, they placed the gifts under the tree.
After putting Peggy to bed, Terry opened the two white envelopes and found to her amazement, a check for $30 … a Christmas bonus from a previous job. That will pay the rent, she thought. The other letter offered her a permanent position with the government—to begin two days after Christmas!
With faith restored and hope renewed, a very happy Terry looked out her window before going to bed. The storm had passed. Twinkling stars filled the crystal clear night sky. Church bells rang out, "Christ, the Lord is born!"
I'm not alone at all, Terry thought, and realized that she never had been.1
And this, of course, is the message of Christmas. In the midst of a world filled with sorrow, sadness, loss, grief, sickness, loneliness, terrorism and war, we are again reminded that even though a viscous battle is raging between good and evil, we have a God who hasn't forgotten us—he cares deeply and sympathizes with our weaknesses and infirmities.2
 With faith restored and hope renewed,
a very happy Terry looked out her
window before going to bed. The storm
had passed. Twinkling stars filled the
crystal clear night sky. Church bells
rang out, 'Christ, the Lord is born!'
In fact, God cared so much for every single person who was ever born or who ever will be born, that on that first Christmas some 2,000 years ago, he sent his very own Son, the Lord Jesus Christ to earth. He left the "Ivory Palaces of Heaven" as a babe to identify with mankind and to give his life on the cross to pay the ransom price for our sins. This is so we could be delivered from a fate far worse than physical death; that is, spiritual death in the place the Bible calls hell—which includes eternal separation from love, meaningful life, goodness, mercy, and—worst of all—from the God who loves us.
No matter where you are, who you are, whatever you have done or failed to do, Christmas is a graphic reminder that God loves you … personally, individually and unconditionally, and that he has a plan and purpose for your life. It begins by confessing your sinfulness to God, asking for his forgiveness, thanking Jesus for coming to earth and dying in your place for your sins, and inviting him into your heart and life as your personal Savior and Lord. To help you do this click on the "God's Invitation" button link below for a special prayer to help you do this. (Note: If you are on any site other than that of the main website of ACTS International, click on the "God's Invitation" button or link at the bottom of the page.)
1. See Hebrews 13:5.
2. Hebrews 4:15.
God's Invitation
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