Mitchell County

God has been so good to me. I do not deserve the good things of God, but he gives them to me anyway. God has provided for our needs and so much more. I can never out-give or repay my gracious Father in heaven.

One Christmas, I had asked for a go-kart. I do not know if I really expected to get one because I knew they were expensive. But when I got up to my surprise, there was a go-kart in my living living room. Man, I was so excited, and I could not believe I got a go-kart for Christmas. I was so happy I could not wait to ride that thing.

We went out in the back yard and fired that machine up, and there I went round and round for hours riding that new go-kart. This was probably one of my most memorable Christmases. I remember the big smiles on my dad’s and mom’s faces. They were happy for me that I was getting so much enjoyment out of my Christmas present.

At that time, my mom did not work outside the home, and my dad was the sole provider of our family. It took me several years to realize how much my parents sacrificed for me and my siblings. I am sure money was tight at times, but Mom and Dad always provided for us. We may not have had the best or the latest styles, but our needs were always met. But that Christmas, as a young boy, I was on top of the world.

God the Father delights in giving good things to his children. Psalm 84:11 “For the LORD God is a sun and shield: The LORD will give grace and glory: No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.“ Matthew 6:26 ”Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?”

At times, I feel I do not deserve the goodness of God. My parents did not give me that go-kart because of my worthiness. In other words, they did not deliberate whether Dean is worthy of such a gift or if I merited such a gift. They gave it to me because they loved me and they knew I loved them.

God gave us the gift of Jesus, not because there is merit or worthiness in us. God gave us Jesus, “for God so loved the world He gave,” because God loves us and His desire is that by God’s grace we receive His gift. Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

The bottom line is that God sent Jesus to die on a cross for our sins. Jesus paid our sin debt with His blood. He is our substitutionary atonement. God’s Christmas gift is Jesus, our Savior. I am so grateful that God saved me. I can wake up every morning with excitement and happiness for the gift of God. Thank you, Jesus, for loving me and for giving your life for me.

Merry Christmas to All.
Pastor Dean Honeycutt

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Pastor Dean Honeycutt shepherds Snow Hill Baptist Church in Bakersville, NC. He may be reached at 828-385-0213, [email protected], or visit their website at www.snowhillbaptist.com.

You can read more good Christian news from Dean HERE.

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