Make It

And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way, Colossians 1:10.

In the movie, Saving Private Ryan, there is a scene near the end of the movie where Tom Hanks' character--who was sent to find and bring home Private Ryan--has been hurt and he looks at Ryan and says, "Make it worth it." Tom Hanks' character made the ultimate sacrifice: he gave up his life so that another man could live his. That's what all military personnel do: they serve and they give their lives as a sacrifice so that others may live. All they ask in return is that you say thank you and live your life, full, the way it was meant to be lived.

Those men and women in all branches of the military model Jesus' example. Jesus came into the world, all those years ago from tonight. He came and He gave up his life so that others would have theirs. "The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many," (Matthew 20:28). Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice: He was completely without spot or blemish and He gave His life as the Sacrificial Lamb, so that our spots and blemishes would be removed and we would be made clean before the eyes of God.

There is a song we sing in church that talks about this very thing:
"And when before the throne, / I stand in Him complete, / Jesus died, my soul to save. / My lips shall still repeat. / Jesus paid it all, / All to Him I owe. / My sin had left a crimson stain, / He washed it white as snow."

Jesus left us debt-free and clean before the Throne and all He asks in return is for us to live a life worthy of what He did for us. Give others the ultimate Christmas present: introduce them to Jesus, if they have not already met. Give Jesus your ultimate present this Christmas: your life, lived worthily.