DECEMBER 19, 2014
The
Heart Of Christmas
Read: 1
Timothy 1:12-17
The grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love
which are in Christ Jesus. —1
Timothy 1:14
Charles Dickens’ novel
A Christmas Carol was released on December 19, 1843, and has never been out of
print. It tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a wealthy, sour, stingy man who
says, “Every idiot who goes about with ‘Merry Christmas,’ on his lips, should
be boiled with his own pudding!” Yet, one Christmas Eve, Scrooge is radically
changed into a generous and happy man. With great humor and insight, Dickens’
book captures the universal longing for inner peace.
As a young man, the
apostle Paul opposed Jesus and His followers with a vengeful spirit. He “made
havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women,
committing them to prison” (Acts 8:3). But one day he encountered the risen
Christ, and his life became a different story (9:1-16).
In a letter to
Timothy, his son in the faith, Paul described that life-changing event by
saying, even though he was “a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man . .
. the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are
in Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 1:13-14).
Jesus was born into
our world and gave His life so that we can be forgiven and transformed through
faith in Him. This is the heart of Christmas!
Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord,
That hath made heaven and earth of naught,
And with His blood mankind hath bought.
—English carol
A
change in behavior begins with Jesus changing our heart.
Insight
Though Paul’s words to
Timothy in today’s reading are not one of the traditional biblical texts we
read at Christmas, they definitely have application for this season. In verse
15 we read: “Christ Jesus came into the world.” This is a reference not only to
Christ’s coming but also to His purpose for coming. Why was He born in human
flesh? Paul answers that question by adding, “to save sinners.” Jesus’ coming
was a mission of rescue for a race that desperately needed a Savior.
Source:
Our Daily Bread 2012
