Anticipating Christmas (Kenneth Boa and John Allen Turner))

As we anticipate Christmas, it is good to look at His story, "a collection of monumental moments that remind us that Christ cared enough to experience life with us. Christmas is the time to remember that Christ not only came, but he stayed, he lived, he cared." ~ Max Lucado, introduction from Celebrating Christmas with Jesus, An Advent Devotional

Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save us, 

nor his ear too dull to hear. 

But your iniquities have separated you from your God; 

your sins have hidden his face from you, 

so that he will not hear. 

Isaiah 59:1-2

...just as the result of one trespass 

was condemnation for all men, 

so also the result of one act of righteousness 

was justification that brings life for all men.

Romans 5:18

We are deeply fallen, yet we are greatly loved. The fall that took away our purity could not take away God's love for us. Nothing can. And so the need for the baby who was born on Christmas became inevitable, and the great plan was set in motion. The response of our holy and loving God to the disastrous effects of wickedness is...surprisingly...love.
     ~ Once a Day 25 Days of Advent by Kenneth Boa with John Allen Turner, Day 2