Friday Night Light

| A Flashback to Christmas |

Friday Night Light's FALALALASHBACK FRIDAY was meant to celebrate the year that was and to look forward to Christmas 2013, the eventful day of commemorating the birth of Jesus. A trip back to the times of the past reminded us of a truth we will never forget.

None can deny that Christmas is about JESUS:

His birth has been told through carols. His name claimed a stake on December 25.

He was the REASON for the SEASON.

Christmas, however, was celebrated only 300 years after Christ's death and resurrection.

For quite sometime, His birthday was not a Holiday. Not many people looked forward to that day. In fact, the traditional December 25 celebration was never just about Christ, for many pagan traditions and beliefs take place during this season too.

Flashback to 800 B.C. And you'll see prophets like Micah and Isaiah, preparing the way for the coming King. Flashback to 1000 B.C. And probably even further, and you'll see great men and women of the Bible -- some leading a nation like Solomon and his father David; Jacob, Isaac, and the father of many nations, Abraham; and even the ark builder, Noah -- each and every character prepared the way for the fulfillment of the promise of Redemption, a story carefully and creatively written by the greatest Author of all.

And then we flashback to Genesis,
The beginning of it all. Here is where we are reminded that God has

Created man in His "own image and likeness..."

You were created with such rich comparison:

As the favored creation of God,

you were meant to be RESPECTED.

You were meant to RULE.

You were meant to be LOVED.

However, because of sin, this identity has been taken away from us. But as John 3:16 says, "...God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life."

The LOVE OF GOD for me and you PREVAILED.

Because He desires to restore us back to the identity with which we are made,

CHRISTMAS had to happen to restore you; empower you; give you hope; change you.

To once again make you a creation deserving of Respect, Rulership, and above all, Love.

He had to be born and live in the likeness of man, eventually becoming the sacrifice for sin itself and submitting Himself to death, even death on the cross... He did this to set you free from all the lies you've believed and to give you back the identity you have in Him.

You see, Christ maybe the reason for the season,

BUT CHRISTMAS WAS MEANT FOR YOU.

This 2013, celebrate Christmas with this in mind.

No matter what happened this year and before, know that God has pursued you,
and He has given you His everything... Because you meant EVERYTHING to Him.

Now, that is a reason for unadulterated, everlasting JOY.
Merry Christmas from Friday Night Light!

Paul De Vera is an active servant leader in Friday Night Light.
He enjoys entertaining audiences as a host and is a brilliant preacher;
he also leads worship and has a passion for writing.
You can check his blog at http://themanwhowrites.com/