Merry Christmas to all!
Christmas is more than gifts and a tree. Christmas is even more than precious family time. Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus--the Christ, the Anointed One.
It's hard to wrap my mind around the fact that the God of the universe knew that man needed a Savior, so He sent...Himself. He wrapped Himself in flesh and came humbly as a man, fully God and fully man. What an amazing love! Meditate on that for a while and see if it doesn't change your perspective on, not just Who He is, but who you are, for He did what He did...for you! He did it for me!
Yes, He is God. That's why when Philip asked to see the Father, Jesus responded in John 14:9 (emphasis added):
9Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?
I delight in sharing the message of Christ. Enjoy your family, enjoy your gifts, but most of all, enjoy the Lord.
Isaiah 9:6:
6For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
A few points from this passage in Isaiah:
1. They were expecting Jesus for generations.
2. He alone is in control.
3. Jesus is God in the flesh.
4. There is no peace apart from Him, for He IS peace.
Luke 2: 1-20:
1And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
2(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
15And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
A few points from this passage in Luke:
1. Jesus came humbly to the earth; a King came as a servant.
2. We must never despise where we are in life now. God's plan is often bigger than what we can see today, but may our motive always be to serve.
3. The Good News of Jesus causes us to rejoice and praise God vehemently.
4. Encountering Christ makes us want to share Him with others. You just can't keep it to yourself!
God bless you all.
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