Get to Know the Creator and Savior
By Rick Warren
“Before anything else existed, there was Christ, with God. He has always been alive and is himself God. He created everything there is—nothing exists that he didn’t make. Eternal life is in him, and this life gives light to all mankind.” John 1:1-4 (TLB)
Jesus came to earth as a baby at Christmas so that we could get to know him. While there are many titles for God, here are two ways he wants you to know him.
Know him as Creator. God made you to love you and to know you, and he wants you to love him and know him too! That’s one of the reasons he gave us the Bible. When you don’t understand how something works, the best place to find out is in the owner’s manual. The Bible is like an owner’s manual for life. Your Creator gave it to you to help you understand him, his love for you, and his purpose for your life.
In fact, because God created you, he’s the only one who can show you the purpose of your life. The Bible explains it like this: “Before anything else existed, there was Christ, with God. He has always been alive and is himself God. He created everything there is—nothing exists that he didn’t make. Eternal life is in him, and this life gives light to all mankind” John 1:1-4 (TLB).
Know him as Savior. God didn’t just create you; he also saves you. Jesus came at Christmas so he eventually could die for all your sins. If someone is willing to die for you, they’re worth getting to know!
Have you ever thought about why we need saving? Follow me in this. Heaven is a perfect place—no sorrow, no sadness, no sickness. It’s incredible. Heaven is perfect, but none of us are perfect. If God lets imperfect people into heaven with all of our faults and sins, it’s not going to be a perfect place anymore and would be no better than earth.
So God came up with a plan. John 1:11-12 says, “He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name” (HCSB).
Many people think God is the Father of everybody. He is not. God created everybody; God loves everybody; God has a purpose for everybody. But God is only the Father of those who choose to become a part of his family by meeting the one family requirement: Believe in his Son Jesus he sent at Christmas. That’s the one and only condition.
Will this be the Christmas when you say yes to Jesus, get to know him as your Creator and Savior, and settle the issue—with certainty—of where you will spend eternity?
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This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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