December 25, 2006

Merry Christmas everyone, not happy holidays. We observe and celebrate the birth of the savior of the world, Jesus the Christ, the son of God, without whom there is no purpose for living and no hope for a life after this one in heaven with him and with the father.

Jesus came down so we might come up. He became man that we might become like God. He offered himself as a sacrifice for our sins – yours and mine – that is the only sacrifice acceptable to god, making those of us who repent of our sins and receive that sacrifice righteous in God’s sight, not because of what we do, but because of what Jesus did.

It’s easy to blur that central message in the rush of the commercial Christmas and the giving of things to each other. This Christmas, let’s give ourselves to Jesus. It is the only gift he wants and why shouldn’t he have it? Did not he give all he had for us? Is it too much to ask us to give our all to him?

Remember, Christmas isn’t Christmas ‘til it happens in your heart; somewhere deep in side you is where Christmas really starts; so give your heart to Jesus, you’ll discover when you do; that it’s Christmas, really Christmas for you.

Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C.