There was a man who was a believer, but became disillusioned about the church and especially about Christmas. (That’s easy to do, isn’t it!) One Christmas Eve there was a terrible storm, and he kept hearing a strange thumping noise. When he looked out the back door, he saw some birds running into the window trying to get out of the storm. He wanted to help them, so he went out to his barn and opened the door. But the birds wouldn’t fly into the barn. He tried lighting the barn, putting out some birdseed, and even laying bread crumbs like Hansel and Gretel. He tried shooing them into the barn. But the birds just wouldn’t fly in.

Finally he thought, “if only I could be a bird like them, then I could lead them into safety in the barn.” At that very moment, the church bells in town began to ring, and he realized what Christmas was all about. It’s all about God becoming a man to lead us to salvation.

Christmas is when God stepped out of heaven, and became a member of the human race.

Galatians 4:4-5

4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,

5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

He had to be a man to pay the price for man’s sins.

Hebrews 2:14

14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,

As we celebrate Christmas with family and friends, save some time to celebrate the fact that God became man, to give us the hope of salvation.

1 Timothy 2:5-6

5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.

Remember the best present you ever got – God stepped out of heaven for you, becoming a mere man to accomplish our salvation.

2 Corinthians 9:15

15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!