Birth Day

Consider Christmas – the most significant birthday ever recorded. Christmas is the grand celebration of our Savior’s birth, Christ the Lord.

 Luke 2:11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ​​​​ 

 What is​​ Christmas, why do we celebrate? ​​​​ Towards the middle of October,​​ decorations begin​​ to pop​​ up in the stores for Christmas. ​​ At​​ the end of this​​ same​​ month, tree lots appear on intersection corners. ​​ Christmas is​​ a day celebrated throughout our country in a majority of homes. ​​ It is as much a cultural tradition as it is a religious celebration. ​​ Ask​​ others what this time of year is about and you will receive a variety of answers. ​​ Santa Claus, snowmen and reindeer, food, family, and friends. ​​ Amidst the​​ presents​​ and parties, lights, trees, and​​ decorations, some people will focus on the birth of Jesus.

 At this special time of year,​​ Christmas carols and holiday music abound everywhere. ​​​​ Interesting to note – and perhaps why I personally get really excited about this holiday is the acceptance of recognizing and talking about God and His Son, Jesus​​ Christ.​​ People seem more open to the Truth at this time of year.​​ The​​ opportunities to share​​ the Gospel abound as many of our cultural traditions point to the Christ child. ​​ Turn on​​ almost​​ any Christmas music station and carols of old will be playing. ​​ Listen carefully to the words and recognize that truth is shared as if they are hymns. ​​ Individuals everywhere sing of the glory of Jesus’​​ birth at Christmas time, even​​ if truth has not been accepted, some oblivious to the words they are expressing in a familiar tune. ​​​​ ​​ ​​ 

 In the Christian household,​​ the center of​​ Christmas is the celebration of a birthday – the birth of Jesus Christ. ​​ Consider the planning of a milestone birthday for an individual. ​​ Perhaps it is the very first birthday of a child or the birthday that puts a child in the category of ‘two digits’, or becoming a teenager. ​​ Maybe it’s the fiftieth birthday commonly known as ‘over-the-hill’. ​​ And for some, we may even be around to celebrate our sixties, seventies, eighties and beyond. ​​​​ 

 Most everyone has either had a significant birthday party or has been to one. ​​ A lot of effort goes into the planning and preparation. ​​ There is food to make, decorations to put up, presents to purchase and usually a cake to bake. ​​ Party hats, balloons and banners are often part of the celebration.

 Consider Christmas – the most significant birthday ever recorded. ​​ Christmas is the​​ grand​​ celebration of​​ our​​ Savior’s birth, Christ the Lord.​​ What happened when Jesus Christ was born is the world was given a gift.​​  It is not that we brought something to Him, God gave His Son to us. ​​ We give gifts because we care about someone. ​​ God gave Jesus because He loves you. ​​ Have you accepted the gift He offers? ​​ It is free to receive yet was purchased with a great cost. ​​ Christ was born to die for the sin of all mankind. ​​ God’s love is so great that He gave us His Son as the only acceptable and perfect sacrifice​​ that would pay the price of man’s transgression. ​​ 

 I pray your Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus. ​​ Not only the birth but the gift of life we have in Him. ​​ He was born to die, He willingly suffered for man even while He was innocent, He alone was able to pay the price we owe for our sin. ​​ Jesus was crucified, died, was buried and arose from the grave in His victory over sin’s power. ​​ All because of God’s love for you. ​​ The greatest gift we can give to those we care about is the Truth of Christmas. ​​ 

 Luke 2:10-11 And the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

 Good news​​  – the gospel: Jesus’ birth, death, resurrection; God’s​​      ​​ ​​​​ forgiveness, our​​ atonement​​ and the promise of a​​       ​​ ​​​​ glorious future in heaven

 Great joy  – exceeding gladness​​ 

 All people  –​​ offered to​​ everyone everywhere

 A Savior​​   –​​ our Deliverer

 Christ​​   – the anointed, the Messiah

 The Lord​​   – supreme in authority, Master, God

 

 This is Christmas. ​​ Celebrate the Truth!

 

 

Author: Sharyn Balogh

You know it's difficult to write about yourself. The most important fact I can disclose is that I'm saved by God's grace through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. My desire is to live a life honoring to God in response for the gift of salvation I've been given. This is so much easier said than done! I struggle daily with right choices, right words, right thoughts, and right actions. My best and only defense against sin is the power of God in me and for that I am inexpressibly thankful. I have three amazing grown-up children who have responded to God's call in their lives along with their spouses. One of the great joys of my life is knowing my children and their families strive to serve and follow God. My grandchildren are another wonderful joy in my life! My husband and I are blessed with four beautiful grandchildren to date with another expected very soon on September 12th. We also are thankful for the comforting knowledge that an additional three of our grandchildren, a set of twins at three months gestation and a little boy, Isaac, at four and a half months gestation, are in our Savior's presence. I have attended the same church since the day my eyes were opened to Truth over thirty years ago. How fortunate it is to have been led by God’s hand immediately to a church body that follows the Bible, no man-made doctrines, just the Word clear and strong. My husband is my best friend, my confidant, my encourager, and I still can't believe how blessed I am by his example of love and generosity towards everyone around him. He is God-fearing, compassionate, and kind and I have learned so much from him. I am a daughter to my almost 92 year-old mother, sister to three brothers, a wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, aunt, great-aunt, neighbor and friend. That means, whomever is reading this, we probably have something in common! I love every unique role I have been placed in. I'm frequently stretched and sometimes feel like silly putty that wants to bounce right back into my comfort zone. My greatest ambition is to be a follower of Jesus; a light that shines for Him at all times, in all circumstances. So, there it is, a bit about me. I guess I was able to write about myself after all! However, my existence cannot be defined without Jesus Christ, my Lord and my Savior. His love has permeated my life to His glory and my eternal thankfulness.