Today is Christmas…the day we celebrate the birth of the Savior … the One who was rejected by men … the One who came from heaven to earth to give his life a ransom for your sins and mine … the One who is now in heaven preparing a place for his followers … the One who is coming again to take us to be with him in heaven forever. How can we ever thank God and the Son of God enough for so great a salvation?

One of my favorite gospel songs written by Keith Green expresses my feelings very well. I trust it will yours too. Let’s make this our suggested prayer for today:

Oh Lord, You’re beautiful,
Your face is all I seek,
And when Your eyes are on this child,
Your grace abounds to me.

Chorus:
I wanna take Your Word
and shine it all around.
But first help me just to live it, Lord!
And when I’m doing well.
Help me to never seek a crown.
For my reward is giving glory to You.

Oh, Lord, You’re wonderful,
Your touch is all I need,
And when Your hand is on this child,
Your healing I receive.

Oh Lord, please light the fire,
That once burned bright and clear,
Replace the lamp of my first love,
That burned with holy fear.²

Gratefully, in Jesus’s name. Amen.

Note: If you have never accepted God’s gift of forgiveness, for help go to: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9

1. Isaiah 53:3-4 (NLT).
2. Keith Green.

In telling the story about a man named Angus McGillivray, whose example transformed a hellhole of a World War II Japanese prison camp into a place of caring and concern, we stated that because we have all sinned, we are spiritually dead and, consequently, separated from God who is also a God of holiness in whose presence no sin can ever exist or sinner survive.

That was the bad news.

The good news is that, as there is a higher law than the law of gravity—the law of aerodynamics, there is also a higher law than the law of sin and death (which is the result of breaking the moral law). It is the law of the Spirit of life that God provided through his love by giving his own Son, Jesus Christ, to come to earth as a baby born in Bethlehem at Christmas some 2000 years ago and then, as a grown man, to die in our place to pay the consequences of our sin and our breaking God’s moral/spiritual law.

As God’s Word says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”⁷ Also, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”⁸

Because Jesus Christ gave his life and died to pay the just penalty for all our sins, God now offers each of us a free pardon for all our sin and, in accepting this pardon, we are freed from the law of sin and death. As the Bible says, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life sets me free from the law of sin and death.”⁹

And that’s the glory of Christmas. It provides the greatest Christmas gift anyone could ever give or ever receive. All you need to do is to believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that he died on the cross in your place to pay the penalty for all your sins … and pray and confess your sinfulness to God, thank him for giving his Son to die in your place, ask for his forgiveness, and invite Jesus Christ to come into your heart and life as personal Lord and Savior. Doing this is your “passport into heaven,” without which you can never enter God’s Heaven of untold beauty, joy, and love. Whatever you do, don’t leave earth without it!

For a prayer to help you, click on “God’s Invitation” at http://tinyurl.com/6k49w.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you for the glory of Christmas in that you gave your Son, Jesus Christ, to come to earth to die on the cross in my place to save me from eternal destruction in hell so that, as long as my trust is in you, I am freely forgiven of all my sins, and given your gift of eternal life so that I can live in Heaven forever with you. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. John 15:13 (NIV).

2. Taken from Holy Sweat by Tim Hansel, Word Publication, 1987, p. 146-147.

3. Romans 5:8 (NIV).

4. John 15:13 (NIV).

5. See Romans 6:23.

6. John 3:16 (NIV).

7. Romans 5:8 (NIV).

8. John 3:16 (NIV).

9. Romans 8:1-2 (NIV).

In yesterday’s Daily Encounter we told the story about a man named Angus McGillivray, whose example transformed a hellhole of a World War II Japanese prison camp into a place of caring and concern. This transformation meant survival for many of the other prisoners and happened because one man, Angus McGillivray, gave his own life to save his mucker (prison buddy/mate).

What a powerful illustration of the fact that one person can make a difference and what can happen when one gives his life for another. As the Bible teaches us, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”⁴ And what a powerful reminder of the One who laid down his life for you and me—the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God—who stepped out of the ivory palaces of heaven, laid aside his external robes of deity, clothed himself in a garment of human flesh, and became a man to identify himself with us when he came to earth at that first Christmas 2,000 years ago, so he could become our Savior to die for our sins, and as a result save us from the curse of hell and a lost eternity.

Some people argue, if God is a God of love how could he ever send anyone to hell? The reality is that God doesn’t send anyone to hell except Satan and his horde of evil demons for whom hell was created. If we go to hell it is because it is the natural consequences of our sinfulness. We send ourselves there.

Let me illustrate. If I jump from a very high tower the natural consequence will be that I will kill myself. It will be the result of my trying to defy the law of gravity, the law that holds the universe together. I cannot break this law. If I try to, it breaks me—physically.

There is also a moral and spiritual law that governs the universe just as real as the law of gravity. Neither can this law be broken without natural consequences. If I try to break it, it breaks me—spiritually. According to God’s Word, the Bible, the consequences of breaking the moral/spiritual law is death; that is, spiritual death which, following physical death, will be eternal separation from God, the author of all love and life—and that will be hell in hell.⁵

Because we have all sinned, we are spiritually dead and, consequently, separated from God who is a God of holiness in whose presence no sin can ever exist or sinner survive. However, because God is also a God of love, he has made a way of escape for all who put their trust in him. The answer is in tomorrow’s Daily Encounter.

To be concluded…

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that you are God and not a god made with human hands or the figment of man’s imagination. Thank you, too, that you are God of infinite holiness and perfect justice; otherwise you would never be God. And thank you that you are also God of infinite love in that you have made a way of escape from the eternal punishment that your holiness and justice demands. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

Note: See footnotes at end of Part III.

In his book, Through the Valley of the Kwai, Ernest Gordon gives a true account of life in a World War II Japanese prison camp. The story is about a man named Angus McGillivray, whose example transformed a hellhole of a prison camp into a place of caring and concern.

In one camp filled with Americans, Australians, and Britons, men who had helped build the infamous bridge over the River Kwai, McGillivray was a Scottish prisoner. The attitude in this camp had apparently turned into an ugly, selfish, dog-eat-dog situation. Fellow prisoners cheated on each other. Men had their packs stolen right from under their heads while they were sleeping on them. It was every man for himself. Survival was the name of the game. As Gordon put it, “The law of the jungle prevailed.” All this took place until the news of Angus McGillivray’s death was heard throughout the camp.

The men were astounded. McGillivray was a big, strong man and everyone presumed he would be the last one to die. But it wasn’t his death that shocked the prisoners, but the reason for it.

The Scottish soldiers were called Argylls and had a buddy system that they took very seriously. Their buddy or mate was called their “mucker” and each was committed to the other to ensure the other’s survival. Angus’s mucker became very ill and wasn’t expected to live. However, when someone stole his mucker’s blanket, Angus gave him his, saying he had found an extra one. At mealtime Angus would take his rations and force his mucker to eat, again saying that he had found extra. Angus did everything he could to keep his mucker alive.

In time the mucker fully recovered. And then to everyone’s surprise Angus suddenly collapsed and died. The doctors found that he had died from exhaustion and starvation.

The cause of McGillivray’s death is what brought about the transformation of the prison camp. They all knew the reason behind his death. Because of Angus’s example, the men began to be concerned for their mates and became less self-centered and more caring and sharing. They decided to get together and use their talents to help each other. “One was a violin maker, another an orchestra leader, another a cabinet maker, another a professor. Soon the camp had an orchestra full of homemade instruments and a church called the ‘Church Without Walls’ that was so powerful, so compelling, that even the Japanese guards attended. The men began a university, a hospital and a library system.”²

To be continued…

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you for the power of love in that it can change lives like nothing else ever can, and thank you that love is a gift from you. Please use my life as a channel of your love so that my life and the life of others will be changed. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

Note: See footnotes at end of Part III.

How can we know if the Christmas story is true or not? The person of Christ is not in doubt. He was as much a fact of history as were Julius Caesar and William Shakespeare. But was his birth on that first Christmas that of God on earth?

That, of course, is a question each person needs to answer for him or herself. However, for those who sincerely want an answer there is great evidence to verify that Jesus Christ was and is the Son of God.

Among the best evidence is the fulfillment of more than 300 biblical prophecies concerning his birth, life, and death that accurately predicted his birth in Bethlehem, his being betrayed for thirty pieces of silver, and his death by crucifixion.

In his book, Science Speaks, Peter Stoner applies the science of probability to just eight of these many prophecies. He states that the chance that any one man might have fulfilled just these eight prophecies would be one in 1016; that is one in 10,000,000,000,000,000, not to mention the chances of fulfilling all 300 prophecies.

Stoner says that if we took this many silver dollars (10 to the 16) and laid them on the face of the state of Texas, they would cover the entire state two feet thick. If one of the coins had a special marking on it and a blindfolded man had to find it, what would his chances be?

Stoner claims that he would have as much chance as the biblical prophets, without God, “would have had of writing those eight prophecies and having them all come true in any one man.”

Christ also confirmed his deity through his many miracles and especially through his resurrection from death. He came to earth specifically to pay the penalty and die for the sins of mankind. In rising from the dead, he not only showed that he was the Son of God, but also conquered sin and death so that all who believe in him would receive the gift of eternal life.

The exciting news about Christmas is that it is not only a reminder of Christ’s first coming and all he did for us, but also a reminder that he is coming again to take to heaven all who put their trust in him and to do away with all wars, sorrow, and tears forever. Only then will his promise of “peace on earth” be fulfilled. Based on his other promises and biblical prophecies already fulfilled, we can be just as certain of Christ’s second coming as we are of his first.

Exactly when that will be nobody knows for sure. However, the signs of the time indicate that Christ’s return could be very near—perhaps just around the corner.

The critical issue is to be ready for his coming. You can be by believing that Christ died on the cross for your sins and by responding to his invitation to receive him into your heart and life as personal Lord and Savior. To see how to do this see the article, “How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian” at: www.actsweb.org/christian.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you for the promise that Jesus will return to earth again for all those who have put their faith and trust in him. Please help me to know for sure that I will be ready when that time comes. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. John 14:1-3 (NIV).

Christmas is such an amazing story, as Harry Reasoner, well-know television commentator shared on 60 Minutes, that “it leaves you only three ways of accepting it:

“One is cynically—as a time to make money or endorse the making of it.

“Another is graciously—the appropriate attitude for non-Christians who wish their fellow citizens all the joys to which their beliefs entitle them.

“The third is reverently. If this is the anniversary of the appearance of the Lord of the universe in the form of a helpless babe, it is a very important day. It’s a startling idea of course. My guess is that the whole story—that a virgin was selected by God to bear his Son as a way of showing his love and concern for man—in spite of all the lip service given to it, is not an idea that has been popular with theologians.

“It’s a somewhat illogical idea, and theologians like logic almost as much as they like God. It’s so revolutionary a thought that it probably could only come from a God that is beyond logic and beyond theology.

“It has a magnificent appeal. Almost nobody has seen God, and almost nobody has any real idea of what he is like. The truth is that among men the idea of seeing God suddenly and standing in a very bright light is not necessarily a completely comforting and appealing idea. But everyone has seen babies and most people like them. If God wanted to be loved as well as feared, he moved correctly. If he wanted to know his people as well as rule them, he moved correctly, for a baby growing up learns all about people. And if God wanted to be intimately a part of man he moved correctly here, too, for the experience of birth and family-hood is our most intimate and precious experience.

“So it comes beyond logic. It is either all falsehood or it is the truest thing in the world. It is the story of the great innocence of God, the baby. God in the person of man has such a dramatic shock toward the heart, that if it is not true, for Christians nothing is true.”²

But how can we know if the Christmas story is true or not? The person of Christ is not in doubt. He was as much a fact of history as were Julius Caesar and William Shakespeare. But was his birth on that first Christmas that of the Son of God who came to earth as a babe born in Bethlehem?

That, of course, is a question each person needs to answer for him/herself. However, for those who sincerely want an answer there is great evidence to verify that Jesus Christ was and is the Son of God.

To be concluded…

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, once again I thank you for the remarkable story of Christmas and how you gave your Son, Jesus, to come to earth as a babe so he could identify with all mankind, and then give his life on the cross to pay the penalty for all my sins so I could be freely forgiven and receive your gift of eternal life. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV).

2. Harry Reasoner’s Christmas Address, cited on: http://www.examiner.com/article/harry-reasoner-s-christmas-address.

Lt. Gitz Rice belonged to a famous Canadian regiment that was sent to France in World War I. His regiment fought across the bleak no-man’s-land under fierce fire from the enemy.

One unusual instrument Rice’s company took with them was a piano on which rice composed the famous war-time song, “Mademoiselle from Armentieres.”

On Christmas Eve the piano was brought to the front-line trenches. That night, an eerie quiet settled over no-man’s-land that felt like a lull before deadly attacks at daylight. Enemy troops were so close they could be heard talking.

Shortly before midnight, Rice began playing Christmas carols in a British trench. The melody, “Silent Night, Holy Night,” rang out and pierced the cold, frightening night. Then he played “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing.”

The Canadian soldiers joined in and sang with great gusto. Suddenly they were startled to hear the German soldiers joining them in song: “Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht.” Then followed other carols familiar to Christians everywhere.

Rice then played a German aria from Wagner’s “Tannhaeuser.” As he did a Canadian soldier climbed out of his trench, stood in the open and sang the words.

“Mehr! Mehr!” (More! More!) shouted the Germans. Then one of their own men climbed out of his trench, standing as a possible target for the British rifles, and blended his rich baritone voice with that of the Canadian.

At least for one night the message of Christmas broke through to those battle-weary soldiers as they laid their guns aside and sang together the story about the greatest event the world had ever seen—the story of God coming to earth as a baby to save lost mankind and, ultimately, to end all wars forever.

The Christmas story is truly amazing. Its celebration every year for the last 2,000 years is a constant reminder of its central place in mankind’s history. Even our calendar is dated according to the birth of Christ.

It is such an amazing story, as Harry Reasoner, well-know television commentator shared on 60 Minutes, that “it leaves you only three ways of accepting it.”

To be continued …

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you for the remarkable story of Christmas in the birth of your Son—Jesus the Christ and Savior of the world. Thank you that through Jesus I can make my peace with you, have all my sins forgiven, and be assured of a home in heaven to be with you for all eternity. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Luke 2:13-15 (NIV).

At Christmas time—year after year—the world is dramatically reminded that God sent his Son, Jesus, to save lost mankind from his sin and its devastating consequences of eternal damnation. Christmas is also a good reminder that Jesus is coming back to earth for all who have accepted him as their personal Savior.

There are many references in the Old Testament section of the Bible that predicted Christ’s first coming to earth—an event that is an indisputable fact of history. According to Bible scholars there are 318 references in the New Testament about Christ’s second coming to earth. And as every prediction in the Old Testament regarding Christ’s first coming was fulfilled in minutest detail, we can be just as certain that every prediction in the New Testament regarding Christ’s second coming will also be fulfilled in minutest detail.

Jesus is coming again. God promised it in his Word, the Bible. Jesus himself promised it as well. And all the signs that Jesus and the Bible said would precede his second coming are evident today, also reminding us that Christ’s return could be very soon. The important question is: If Jesus were to come today, would you be ready?

For help to make sure you are ready for Jesus Christ’s return, see the article, “How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian” at: http://tinyurl.com/real-christian.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, how can I ever thank you enough for your great Christmas love gift to me and to the world. In appreciation for all you have done for me, I surrender my heart and life afresh to you. Please use me in whatever way you will to be a part of your plan to spread the gospel to the world in which I live and in some way to people around the world. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Jesus in John 14:2-3 (NIV).

Henry Carter was working feverishly trying to prepare something fresh for his Christmas sermon when he was disturbed by a knock on his study door. It was the dorm mother of the church’s home for disturbed children. There was a crisis upstairs with one of the boys. Most of the boys go home for Christmas and only a few were left behind and were feeling very much abandoned and unloved.

Henry reluctantly followed the dorm mother up the stairs to the small dormitory chafing inwardly at yet another interruption. This time it was Tommy. He had crawled under his bed and refused to come out. The woman pointed to one of the beds. Not even a toe showed so Henry addressed the cowboys and bucking broncos on the bedspread. He told them of the beautifully decorated Christmas tree with all the presents in the church next door … and how there was a special present for Tommy.

Tommy was not impressed and continued to “play dead.”

Henry’s frustration increased as he knelt down on all fours and lifted the bedspread. As he peered under the bed his eyes met two enormous blue eyes expressing the fear and pain Tommy was experiencing. Henry could have easily pulled the little eight-year-old-looking-like-a-five-year-old child from under the bed, but he knew that this wouldn’t help. It was trust, not coercion, that Tommy needed—plus he needed to make the decision to come out by himself. So Henry tried as best he could to get Tommy excited about the special Christmas supper to be offered after the service, the wonderful presents, and the stocking filled with magnificent Christmas gifts with Tommy’s name on it.

All to no avail.

So … what else could Henry do? He got down on his stomach and wriggled himself under the bed to lay with his cheek pressed into the floor beside Tommy. Not a word he said seemed to have any effect. Not being able to think of anything else to say, Henry just laid there in silence beside Tommy. It seemed like such a long time but as Henry patiently waited, in time a small, cold hand crept into his.

After a while Henry said, “You know, Tommy, it’s pretty uncomfortable under here. Let’s you and me go where we can stand up.”

Ever so slowly they did.

Henry had no more worries about finding a Christmas message.²

To be concluded in tomorrow’s edition of Daily Encounter.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you for the marvel of the Christmas story. Please help me to fully understand why Jesus came to earth as a baby and then some 33 years later died on a Roman cross to save mankind from our sin. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Luke 2:8-11 (NIV).

2. Adapted from “Take Hold of Love,” by Henry Carter, pp 29-30, The New Guideposts Christmas Treasury. Copyright © 1998, Guideposts, Carmel, New York, 10512.

“The Doll and a White Rose” by V.A. Bailey

I hurried into the local department store to grab some last minute Christmas gifts. I looked at all the people and grumbled to myself. I would be in here forever and I just had so much to do. Christmas was beginning to become such a drag. I kind of wished that I could just sleep through Christmas. But I hurried the best I could through all the people to the toy department. Once again I mumbled to myself at the prices of all these toys, and wondered if the grandchildren would even play with them.

I found myself in the doll aisle. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a little boy about 5 holding a lovely doll. He kept touching her hair and he held her so gently. I couldn’t seem to help myself. I just kept looking over at the little boy and wondered who the doll was for.

I watched him turn to a woman and he called his aunt by name and said, “Are you sure I don’t have enough money.” She replied a bit impatiently, “You know that you don’t have enough money for it. The aunt told the little boy not to go anywhere because she had to go get some other things and would be back in a few minutes. And then she left the aisle.

The boy continued to hold the doll. After a bit I asked the boy who the doll was for. He said, “It is the doll my sister wanted so badly for Christmas. She just knew that Santa would bring it.” I told him that maybe Santa was going to bring it. He said “No, Santa can’t go where my sister is, I have to give the doll to my Momma to take to her.”

I asked him where his sister was. He looked at me with the saddest eyes and said, “She has gone to be with Jesus. My Daddy says that Momma is going to have to go be with her.”

My heart nearly stopped beating. Then the boy looked at me again and said, “I told my Daddy to tell Momma not to go yet. I told him to tell her to wait till I got back from the store.” Then he asked me if I wanted to see his picture. I told him I would love to. He pulled out some pictures he’d had taken at the front of the store. He said, “I want my Momma to take this with her so she doesn’t ever forget me. I love my Momma so very much and I wish she did not have to leave me. But Daddy says she will need to be with my sister.”

I saw that the little boy had lowered his head and had grown so very quiet. While he was not looking, I reached into my purse and pulled out a hand-full of bills. I asked the little boy, “Shall we count that money one more time?”

He grew excited and said, “Yes, I just know it has to be enough” So I slipped my money in with his and we began to count it. And of course it was plenty for the doll. He softly said, “Thank you Jesus for giving me enough money.”

Then the boy said, “I just asked Jesus to give me enough money to buy this doll so Momma can take it with her to give to my sister. And he heard my prayer. I wanted to ask him for enough to buy my Momma a white rose, but I didn’t ask him, but he gave me enough to buy the doll and a rose for my Momma. She loves white roses so very, very much.”

In a few minutes the aunt came back and I wheeled my cart away. I couldn’t keep from thinking about the little boy as I finished my shopping in a totally different spirit than when I had started. And I kept remembering a story I had seen in the newspaper several days earlier about a drunk driver hitting a car and killing a little girl and the mother was in serious condition. The family was deciding on removal of the life support. Now surely this little boy did not belong with that story.

Two days later I read in the paper where the family had disconnected the life support and the young woman had died. I couldn’t forget the little boy and just kept wondering if the two were somehow connected. Later that day, I couldn’t help myself and I went out and bought some white roses and took them to the funeral home where the young woman was. And there she was holding a lovely white rose, the beautiful doll, and the picture of the little boy in the store.

I left there in tears, my life changed forever. The love that little boy had for his little sister and his mother was overwhelming. In a split second a drunk driver had ripped the life of that little boy to pieces.²

Please don’t drink and drive this holiday season nor throughout the coming year.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to always be sensitive to the needs of others around me and, where needed, help me to reach and be as Jesus to them as the lady in today’s lesson reached out to the heart-broken little boy. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV).

2. “The Doll and a White Rose” by V.A. Bailey. Source Unknown.