Abiding in ChristmasSample

"Abiding in Christmas: Daily Advent Thoughts" by Bryan Craig

DAY TWO

The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord regretted that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him to His heart. (Genesis 6:5-6 ESV)

After the Fall and our banishment from paradise, we continued to pursue our own way and our own self-interest, which led to nothing but more evil. By the time Noah was on the earth, the world was in a very dark state. God is holy, and He could not tolerate this wickedness any longer. So, He planned to cleanse the earth of all unrighteousness with a great flood. But God is also Love, so He provided salvation through a wooden ark. Sadly, only Noah’s family heeded God’s warning and received God’s salvation.  Here we are, thousands of years later, still wrestling with our evil nature, in need of salvation. Instead of a wooden ark God offers a wooden cross, where He satisfied all the punishment due us upon His own Son, Jesus. This Advent we remember that Christmas was a rescue plan. Today is the day to heed God’s warning and receive this salvation from Jesus.

APPLICATION: Have you received the free gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for you on the cross? Do you understand that God sent Jesus for YOU?