A few days before Christmas one year, my cousin flew from San Antonio, Texas to Washington, DC. Young soldiers filled her packed plane. The captain welcomed them and announced the soldiers were on the first leg of a trip to an unsafe region of the world. The plane applauded. But one man did more.

Before I describe the scene, let me set the stage. My daughter and I had just returned from a roundtrip flight. Because my daughter works for an airline, we got bumped to first class on our flight to Chicago, but we flew home coach. Let me describe the difference between our coach and first-class trips.

• In first class, four comfortable seats filled a row. In coach, five seats were crammed into the same amount of space.
• In first class, a console separated our roomy seats. In coach, we fought for elbow space.
• In first class, flight attendants provided steamy wash clothes and a hot meal. Coach offered pretzels and a soft drink.
• In first class, after our meal, flight attendants served warm chocolate chip cookies. In coach, after the pretzels, flight attendants collected our trash.

Back to my cousin’s flight. The flight attendant tapped a skinny soldier from the coach section and ushered him into first class. A few minutes passed before a large man lumbered out of first class and crammed his bulk into the coach seat the soldier had vacated. This man’s sacrifice allowed one young soldier to enjoy first-class amenities before facing war.

Jesus Became Poor to Make You Rich

The sacrifices of the soldiers leaving home and safety at Christmas and of a businessman giving up his first-class comfort moved me. In a small way they reflect Jesus’s greater sacrifice for us.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich” (2 Cor. 8:9 NIV).

• The Almighty became a helpless infant so He could sympathize with our weaknesses (Heb. 4:15).
• The One whose presence filled the galaxies confined Himself to the limitations of a human body (Phil. 2:6-8).
• The One angels served became the suffering servant (Is. 53).
• The King of heaven endured rejection so we could belong (Jn. 1:10-12).
• The Righteous One became sin so we could become righteous (2 Cor. 5:21).
• The Eternal One died in weakness so we could live in power (Rom. 6:6, 12).

Jesus gave up His place in heaven and took on human frailty so you and I could experience forgiveness in this life and heaven in the next. Jesus’s sacrifice makes you rich!

Have you received God’s precious gift? Open your heart today and invite Jesus to be your Lord and Savior.

God loved the world this way: He gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life” (Jn. 3:16 GW). 

Thank You

You enrich our lives. Thank you for considering Lighthouse Ministries in your year-end giving as we work together to restore relationships, build lives, and further God’s kingdom. If we can help you on your spiritual journey, please contact us. Larry and I hope you and your loved ones enjoy a very blessed Christmas.

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Blessings,

A Special Resource

The Father’s love letter is a short video taken from Scripture describing the Father’s love for you. Sit back and enjoy!

Photo by Superkitina on Unsplash

Sometimes I link with these great sites:

#InspireMeMonday, #InstaEncouraements, #TellHisStory and here #Recharge Wednesday, #Grace&Truth,