What's Christmas Really All About?

Christmas is swiftly approaching, and as you probably know, I'm SO excited!
But, as we get closer and closer to Christmas, it's so easy to get sucked into thinking that it's all about presents, food and decorations. These things are great, but it's so, so important to remember what Christmas truly means, and why it brings such amazing news for me and for you!

If you ask someone what Christmas is all about, the most likely answers are usually things like:
-giving/receiving gifts
-spending time with your family and friends
-mince pies (yum)
-wearing Christmas jumpers
-remembering the birth of a miracle baby

All of these things are really great, and I love every one of them! But, that's just not the whole story.

Jesus' birth isn't just remembered because it's a nice story about a miracle baby being born to a virgin. As a Christian, I believe it's something way, way bigger.
It's the birth of our saviour, God in human form, who came to earth with one aim; to die in order to take the punishment for all of the bad things we've done, all the ways in which we've messed up, so that we can be forgiven by God. Then one day we can be with him in Heaven!
Pretty crazy, right?

I've messed up, I can tell you that for sure. I do everyday, and I will for the rest of my earthly life. But the most amazing thing is that I know, that through Jesus' death on the cross, I can be forgiven. Not because I deserve it, not because I've done anything special, but because Jesus loves us so much that he came to die in our place, to give us a way to be friends with our loving, gracious creator.

'But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: whilst we were still sinners, Christ died for us.' -Romans 5:8

How amazing is that? Even though we don't do things God's way, He still loves us so much, and offers us forgiveness through Jesus' death. Even though we approach him with empty hands, he accepts us into his family, and invites us to be with him in Heaven when we die, if we just choose to accept his offer and trust in Jesus' death.

So, Christmas is a time to not only remember Jesus' wonderful birth, but also to remember why He came:
To rescue us, and to one day take us home with him.