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For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.            Romans 1:20           I remember years ago when Life magazine ran a cover story that asked a very provocative question. Famous for its breathtaking photos, the cover featured a stunning picture of the heavens, filled with stars, galaxies, and planets. And on it were printed the words, “Who is God?”           What a question! Humanity has wondered about the Creator from the beginning. And you know, that’s the very question a group of learned men from the East sought to answer so long ago as they looked into the heavens. These men, whom the Bible calls magi, saw something in the stars that led them to travel across hundreds of miles of desert and rough country to visit a toddler in the little town of Bethlehem.           Two thousand years later, people still look at the stars scattered across the sky, or the vastness of an ocean, or mountains capped with snow in the hottest summer and try to make sense of it. That’s because inside every man and woman is an innate sense that creation has a Creator, and so must we.           So whether you’ve known Jesus for years or are just testing the waters of faith, start the journey of discovering God through creation. If you don’t know Christ, maybe you’ll meet Him. And if you do, it will deepen your faith. But it must start by looking into creation and asking that question: “Who is God?” The Sacrifice of Christmas by Dr. Paul Chappell “Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” 2 Corinthians 8:7–9 It is impossible for our limited understanding to fully grasp the glory and riches of Heaven. We read about the wonders of our eternal home in Scripture, but they at best paint a dim picture of what we will one day see. That perfect place was home to Jesus before the world was created. When He left everything behind to come to Earth as our Saviour, He gave up wealth and power beyond our imagination. Though anything in our world would have been a massive step down, Jesus could still have chosen to be born into what passes for wealth and luxury. He could have been born in a palace surrounded by all the comforts available. Instead He chose an ordinary poor family. We know that Mary and Joseph had very little, for the offering that they brought to the Temple was the substitute offering Moses provided for those who could not afford the full sacrifice commanded in the law. “And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean” (Leviticus 12:8). The love of God for us is measured by the cost of our salvation. It was not just on the cross but in every part of His life that Jesus sacrificed. Today’s Growth Principle:  The story of Christmas cannot be appreciated without understanding the sacrifice Christ made for us.