I wanted God to give me a Christmas story, a gift for my friends on Sermon Index. My story and gift to you goes along with the Legend of the Candy Cane which I will share first.
The Legend of the Candy Cane
According to legend there was a candy maker who wanted to invent a candy that was a witness to Christ.
First of all, he used a hard candy because Christ is the Rock of Ages. This hard candy was shaped so that it would resemble a "J" for Jesus or turned upside down, a shephers staff. He made it white to represent the purity of Christ.
Finally, a red stripe was added to represent the blood Christ shed for the sins of the world, and three thinner red stripes for the stripes He received on our behalf when the Roman soldiers whipped Him. Sometimes, a green stripe is added as a reminder that Jesus is a gift from God.
The flavor of the cane is peppermint which is similar to hyssop. Hyssop is in the mint family and was used in the Old Testament for purification and sarifice. Jesus is the pure Lamb of God, come to be a sacrifice for the sins of the world. So every time you see a candy cane remember the message of the candy maker: Jesus is the Christ.
Devotion:
I have a ladies banquet at church to go to tomorrow. I volunteered to make cookies. Since the theme is the candy cane legend I decided to make cookies that you rolled in candy canes. I never made these cookies before. As I was pounding the candy cane the Lord pierced my heart saying that I was the one that pounded the nails into Jesus because of my sin. As I got them out of the oven I was very frustrated the candy had melted all over the baking sheet making a huge mess. It was then the Lord spoke to me that the blood He shed for my sins was messy also.
As He has given us the gift of His Son who died for our sins this Christmas, may we give Him the gift of our hearts.
May God bless you this Christmas!