PAID IN FULL

“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”  –Matthew 1:21  (NIV)

 

Jesus is the greatest gift of all time.  I am grateful for a different kind of  Christmas gift I received this past week.

As you probably know, I recently published a book entitled God’s Presence Illuminated: Treasured Thoughts to Inspire Hope and Light, which is available through Amazon.com. I am on a mission to help spread the Word by trying to market the book more independently and to sell copies. It is another stepping-stone in my faith journey that forces me out of my comfort zone.

 

 

A recent encounter with a seasoned published author has given me ideas of places to reach out to see if they will take a few copies of my books to sell. I had never been to The Owego Pharmacy but had seen their advertisements and know the owners are Christians.  It was one of those “God moments” that a while back, a friend mentioned she saw a particular Christian book I wrote about in this Pharmacy.

I decided to stop in and ask the owner about the possibility of my book.  He said he would take a look and that they do like to support local people.  I was most shocked when he said they do not even take a commission as places usually do.  That sure is a gift right there.

After looking at the book, he said they would be glad to take five of them to sell.

  That, to me, was a special Christmas gift.

 

He said even though the pharmacy is the “business,” their greatest pleasure is in seeing people’s joy in sharing when they find the perfect item such as a Christian card, gift, or book. Sharing the gospel message is an important part of their business, and they like to support others who have that same mission.

 

As I watched him write the check and share those thoughts with me, I could not help but think about the significance and parallel of Jesus’ birth over 2000 years ago that we will be celebrating on Christmas day.

 

Jesus, conceived through the Holy Spirit, was born of a woman on the first Christmas. Jesus’ birth began God’s plan of salvation for all of humanity.  Jesus’ life is the most special Christmas gift that God provided for us.

Through Jesus’ birth, life on earth, death on the cross, and resurrection, Jesus paid for our salvation upfront!  Jesus paid it in full! 

God took a chance on us, that WE will accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior so we may spend eternity in heaven.  We have forgiveness for our sins and access to His grace.

 

 

 

Consider these verses, which speak of how Jesus paid for our salvation.  Take a few minutes to reflect on the significance of each one, thanking Jesus for the gift He paid for you and your salvation.

“…For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  –Mark 10:45  (NLT)

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  –Romans 6:23  (ESV)

You surely know that your body is a temple where the Holy Spirit lives. The Spirit is in you and is a gift from God. You are no longer your own.  God paid a great price for you. So use your body to honor God.  — 1 Corinthians 6:19-20  (CEV)

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,  who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.  –1 Timothy 2:5-6  (ESV)

 

 

I pray that you and your family have a most blessed holiday celebrating the birth of our Savior.  With the holidays in mind, I will take a few weeks off from new posts~~I will see you in 2021!

 

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”  –Luke 2:11-14  (NIV)