Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Friday, December 24, 2010

Jesus said, "In my Father's home [heaven] there are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me."¹

Year after year with "tireless regularity and eternal patience" God reminds the world every Christmas that he sent his Son, Jesus, to save lost mankind. Christmas is also God's reminder that Jesus is coming back to earth for all who have accepted him as their personal Lord and Savior.

His first coming is an indisputable fact of history. His second coming to end this world age is just as certain.

According to Bible scholars there are 1,845 references in the Old Testament and 318 in the New Testament about Christ's coming again. This means for every prophecy in the Bible about Christ's first comingâ€"every one of which was fulfilled in minute detailâ€"there are eight about his second coming!

Jesus is coming again. God has promised this in his Word, the Bible. Jesus himself also promised itâ€"as did the angels at the time of Christ's ascension into heaven. And all the signs that Jesus and the Bible said would precede his return are becoming increasingly evident today reminding us that Christ's return could be very soon. If it were today, would you be ready?

Christmas is also a reminder to all Christians that Jesus has commissioned all of us to spread his message of salvation to everyone everywhere.² Jesus said that, "This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the  whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."³

Never has this been more possible than it is today because our generation has the greatest means of worldwide communications the world has ever seen. And working together we can reach literally millions of people with the gospel just through email and the web alone. Please help ACTS to do this. To see how you can help, go to ACTS secure donor site at: http://actscom.com/

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, how can I ever thank you enough for your great Christmas love gift to the world in giving your Son, Jesus, to come to earth and die for my sins. And Jesus, because you gave your life to save me for all eternity, I surrender my life to you as my Christmas gift to you. Please make me usable and use me to be a part of your plans to reach people across the street and around the world with the gospel. Help me to so live that people seeing Jesus in me will want you for themselves. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

Note: If you have never accepted God’s incredible Christmas love gift, be sure to read, "How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian" at: http://tinyurl.com/real-christian.

1. John 14:2-3 (NIV).
2. Mark 16:15.
3. Matthew 24:14 (NIV).

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