JACKS DAILY DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS
(Luke 2:6-7) “While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son”.
As we approach Christmas Day celebrating the birth of Christ… we can find encouragement from the faithfulness of Mary and Joseph.
In all reality, Christmas may not seem as bright and cheery this year, as in seasons past… but we would be wise to acknowledge that neither were significant aspects of the very first Christmas either.
Have you ever tried putting yourself in the shoes of Mary and Joseph when you read of the events that took place in “The Nativity Story”?
Perhaps you can hardly imagine what it must have been like for them to learn of Mary’s illegitimate pregnancy… to have angelic beings visit them with indescribable news… to have to make a long trip on a donkey while being nine months pregnant, just to satisfy the whims of the government… and then to live each day after… in the reality of being parents to the child who was born under such miraculous circumstances.
The faithfulness of Mary and Joseph rises up from the Gospels as great encouragement to all believers.
The biblical account of Jesus’ birth was miraculous and intense indeed… but when we take a closer look at the Gospels… we find that it was the faithfulness of Mary and Joseph that played a key role in these spectacular events coming to pass.
Their faithfulness and obedience was a channel through which God accomplished something bigger than the both of them.
This Christmas as we celebrate the birth of Christ… no doubt their will be various trials and challenges we all need to deal with… but we can look to Mary and Joseph who endured a variety of trials and hardships as well… and with their example of faithfulness before us, we to can find encouragement and hold onto the hope brought about by the birth of Christ.
I think one of the greatest accolades that could describe some one is to be known for their “faithfulness”.
Though Mary and Joseph’s circumstances were not ideal… God still chose them because of their faithfulness.
“The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary… you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus’” (Luke 1:30-31).
Now Mary was already set to be married to Joseph when the angel of the Lord came to tell her of the news that she would miraculously conceive and give birth to a son.
She was instructed to name him Jesus, and He would be the Son of the Most High.
However she was a young virgin betrothed to Joseph and now she was suddenly found to be with child.
Mary was not from a prominent family nor did she have any elite status.
No… she was just a simple peasant girl who lived in a small town and certainly she never expected to take part in something that would change the whole course of humanity… let alone her own destiny.
You should know that God still uses the Mary’s of this world… seemingly regular folks like you and I… living in and under less than perfect circumstances or conditions… to accomplish His good and perfect will.
Though your circumstances may not be ideal this Christmas… as a believer you are still part of furthering God’s kingdom.
Just like Mary and Joseph, it is our faithfulness… not our status, or wealth, or reputation… that gives us favor with God.
God can and will… still… do mighty things in us and through us this Christmas season because of our faithfulness.
May we keep our hearts ready for what God is calling each of us to do.
Faithfulness is not something that is always easy to do or be.
Faithfulness is challenged every time we turn around, in every aspect of life.
And it is a quality that we can and often do fail in… in different situations.
(1st Corinthians 15:58) teaches us to be “steadfast and unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord”.
To be steadfast and unmovable… is to be spiritually grounded.
A steadfast person knows what he or she believes and cannot be “tossed back and forth by the waves of circumstances, blown here and there by every wind of teaching” (Ephesians 4:14).
An unmovable person can also hear and or recognize false teaching and engage doubters and defend truth… without it shaking his or her own faith.
In another letter to the church in Corinth, (2nd Corinthians 11:3)
Paul expresses his concern for this church saying… “I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning… your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ”
Even believers who had been personally taught by the Apostle Paul were victims of deception.
How much more vulnerable are we?
To remain steadfast and unmovable and faithful we have to know the Word of God.
(2nd Timothy 2:15) admonishes us saying… “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth”.
To accurately handle the word of truth, we must not only read the Bible… but we must allow it to become part of us.
We must let it “dwell within us” as Paul tells us in (Galatians 3:16) “let the Word of Christ dwell with in you”
Its truth should so penetrate our minds and hearts that it shapes our thinking and our actions.
It should so fill our minds that we can detect error when we hear it.
Satan uses scripture for his own purposes, twisting it to sound as though it says something it doesn’t say… such as the dialogue between Satan and Jesus in (Luke 4:9 -11).
If we have not been faithful and diligent in our study and meditation of the truth “The Word of God”, we are vulnerable to error.
The false religions of the world can be persuasive when they quote bible verses to support their error.
Even Christians can be duped by smooth-sounding heresy… if they do not have a solid grounding in the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27).
It is God’s desire that we grow daily in our understanding of Him and His Word… so that we will remain faithful and stand faithful to the end.
Good Day!
(Matthew 1:23) “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
What is the real spirit of Christmas, and where is Jesus on your list of Christmas priorities?
Along with that question… there are a few challenges that are linked to it as well concerning our intent and attitude toward the celebration of Christmas.
Those challenges are…
Are you willing to focus on the real meaning of Christmas?
In the midst of all the hustle and bustle, shopping, buying baking, cooking, travel, and partying,
Are you celebrating the real “reason for the season”?
Are you willing to re focus your traditions of men… to begin celebrating the true intent of Christmas and the real reason for the season.
Christmas should be more than pampering ourselves with food and presents, or visiting family and friends, eating drinking and having a good time.
Christmas is more than an excuse for another holiday.
This morning I’d like to share with you three thoughts about what the real “Spirit of Christmas” is… and what Christmas celebrations should contain for those of who are children of God… Believers in Christ… whom truly love the Lord Jesus Christ.
Those three thoughts are as follows:
#1) Christmas should be a time of thankfulness praise and worship unto God for His generosity toward mankind.
#2) Christmas should be a time of witness… telling others of the goodness of God and His love for humanity.
#3) Christmas should be a time of loving giving and serving our community and those outside of the household of faith during this time as a witness of the greatness and the goodness of God toward humanity!
Let's imagine for a moment your about to throw a birthday party for a friend.
Invitations have been sent out, the room has been decorated and you’ve hired a caterer.
Everyone has accepted the invitation and they are all there in the right place at the right time with presents in hand.
But the person the party is for… is not there… because no one invited them.
Or, what if they did turn up, and everyone shouts “Happy Birthday” then ignores them… and gives the presents they have brought to each other...
Truly this is what is happening at Christmas in our society today.
The reason for the season has been forgotten… the reason for the season has been ignored… the reason for the season is no longer the reason for the season!
Christmas is a time when we as Christians remember the birth of Christ and celebrate His birth.
Its that time in history when God became flesh so that you and I could experience a deliverance from that which separated us from a relationship with Him.
The coming of Jesus is not meant… nor was ever meant to be forgotten or ignored.
And unfortunately that’s what is happening with the Christmas celebration that our world conducts each year.
This morning I want to look at what the real Spirit of Christmas is all about.
There are many different ideas about what the Spirit of Christmas is.
Perhaps that phrase “The Spirit of Christmas” makes your mind immediately travel to the story of Ebernezzer Scrooge and the Spirits of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Future.
But they are not the Real Spirit of Christmas...
For some people, the Spirit of Christmas is embodied in shopping, trawling the many stores that are advertising their Christmas sales, trying to find the right gift for the right person,
Pushing through the crowds of crazed shoppers, enthusiastic kids, determined mothers and fed-up dads, dashing from shop to shop, joining endless queues to pay for things that will probably be returned unwanted on Boxing Day,
Things that will probably be ten times cheaper during the post Christmas sales.
But that is not the real “Spirit of Christmas”.
For some people, the Spirit of Christmas is the need to spend money they don’t have on things they really don’t need.
Everything from the life-size electric Santa Claus on the roof that waves as people go by…to the cinnamon scented candles that would smell sooooo good... if you actually lit it… but it cost so much… so maybe you will save it till next year, or the year after.
Or the glistening lights and festive decorations adorning the roof tops and windows of homes with elaborately decorated Christmas trees.
But that is not the Real Spirit of Christmas...
For some people, the Spirit of Christmas is an excuse to go out with the people from the office, or with friends, to get drunk and party and do all the things that they would never dream of doing the rest of the year.
But that is not the Real Spirit of Christmas...
For some the Spirit of Christmas is self indulgence, the keeping up of family traditions, lights, decorations, tinsel, Christmas trees, presents, turkey, brussel-sprouts, Christmas cookies, Christmas pudding, Christmas cake, and don’t forget football and a Christmas Day afternoon nap.
But none of that is the Real Spirit of Christmas...
At Christmas most of the world is so busy with celebration… that they ignore why we have Christmas at all.
So many are busy with the holiday they don’t even stop to consider the real meaning of what the holiday is all about… or what the celebration is actually for.
Many focus on the presents they will give and get, and yet they ignore Jesus - the greatest gift of all.
Christmas should be a celebration of the birth of Jesus.
Yet somehow the world has chosen to forget whose birthday it really is.
Friends, if I were to ask you “what are your priorities for Christmas this year”,
Where would remembering and celebrating the birth of Jesus be on your list?
Lets not get so busy with the celebration… that we forget the reason for the season.
God became flesh… to eradicate the hold that sin held over humanity.
God entered the carnal realm of humanity so that He could once and for all time… deal with the hold that sin held humanity in.
When Jesus was born so long ago… it was to fulfill… or to pay the price demanded for transgression… to ultimately became the final sacrifice to atone for sin…
And because Jesus came and did that on our behalf… you and I have the hope of eternity in heaven with God our Father for the rest of time.
Don’t be confused or distracted…
Christmas is all about sin and our deliverance from its mastery.
That’s why we must never take for granted Jesus and His birth at this time of year.
That’s the real reason for the season!
Good Day
(Luke 2:7) “ And she gave birth to her firstborn son andwrapped Him in swaddling cloths andlaid Him in a manger,
Immediately after mankind’s first sin in the Garden of Eden, God promised the Savior’s virgin birth (Genesis 3:15).
Hundreds of years later, the prophet Micah foretold the birth of Christ in the small town of Bethlehem: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me, one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times” (Micah 5:2).
This prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus’ earthly parents, Mary and Joseph were called to Bethlehem for a census of the entire Roman territory (Luke 2:1–5).
While they were in Bethlehem, the time came for Jesus to be born (Luke 2:6).
Because of the crowds that had come to Bethlehem, there was no room at the inn for Mary and Joseph.
Now tradition says that the inn was a sort of hotel, however we don’t know that for sure.
In fact, the Greek word translated “inn” (kataluma)... could be translated “guest room.”
This fact has led some to believe that Jesus may not have been born in a stable or a barn, but in a house with a lower floor serving as a nighttime shelter for the families’ animals.
If that were the case, it wouldn’t be surprising to find a manger located in that area of the house.
When Luke states that there was no room in the “kataluma”... he could mean there was no room on the upper level, which would have been full of other people sleeping.
In any case, Jesus was born at night, in some sort of “keeping-place” for animals.
After Jesus was delivered, Mary His mother wrapped Him in cloths and laid Him in a manger as we read in (Luke 2:7).
Later that same night, shepherds from nearby fields found Him just as the angels told them they would (Luke 2:10–12).
Over the years many questions have been asked concerning these details of the Saviors birth.
So, why was the Savior and Prince of Heaven born in a place where animals were kept?
And why was He then laid in the animals’ food trough?
Surely, God’s Son deserved a high-profile birth in the most elegant of surroundings.
Surely God could of worked a miracle to procure a warm secure room for His Son to be born in a more stately manner and place.
But, instead, God’s own Son made His appearance on earth in the lowliest of circumstances.
This humble birth conveys an amazing message to all of creation… that message being that “transcendent God”… condescended to come to us.
Instead of coming to earth as a pampered, privileged ruler, Jesus was born in humble meekness, as one of us.
He is approachable, accessible, available.
No palace gates bar the way to Him… no ring of guards prevents our approach.
The King of kings came humbly, and His first bed was a manger.
We need to understand that our great God and Creator is a relational God.
He does not hide himself from us… nor does He separate Himself from humanity.
Right from the beginning of the creation… the scripture records in (Genesis 3:8)… that Gods presence came to walk with Adam.
We also have an account from the scriptures that another man named Enoch walked with God as well.
Enoch appears to have been given this privilege due to being a man who walked faithfully with God (Genesis 5:24) and a man whom pleased God (Hebrews 11:5).
My point being this morning… is that God wants to spend time with mankind.
As Jesus walked the hills of Judea gathering together multitudes of followers… His was a relational contact with humanity.
He did not separate Himself from the people, that fact given proof when we read how little children were clinging to Him and running around him and He said to those who would shoo the children away and shush them from bothering the teacher, “Suffer the little children to come unto me” (Luke 18:16)
He was God incarnate but God in person… and He came to the people in a manner that they could see feel and trust and then gave to them “The good news of the kingdom of God”.
He calls out to all of us to come to Him (Matthew 11:28)
The writer of the great hymn, “In The garden” tries to convey this truth in the lyrics of the song “And He walks with me and He talks with me”.
At the crucifixion of Christ, 33 years after His birth… the bible says that when Jesus gave up the ghost and surrendered his life on the cross,
That at the moment Jesus breathed His last as a human being… the veil in the temple that separated man from the presence of God was rent or ripped from the top to the bottom.
Jesus cried out “it is finished”!
The price had been paid!
And God said “no longer will I be separated from the people I love”.
That’s what Christmas is truly all about folks.
We have been redeemed and given the opportunity to come to Him… to the Creator… to God our Father at any time… anywhere.
From a humble manger long ago, God unlocked the door that separated us from His presence and gave to humanity the ability to know Him and enjoy His presence an a daily basis once again.
But the choice is up to you.
The invitation has been given… its up to you to respond.
Good day!
(John 3:19) “This is the verdict:… light has come into the world.”
As we prepare to celebrate Christmas this next week… we need to remember "The Reason For the Season”.
And that "Reason For The Season" in a nutshell… is that God sent Jesus as a ransom to redeem us from the grip and the penalty of sin.
Jesus is… “the Light that has come into the world”… and we are to walk in His light as much as we possibly can.
Yet mankind continually ignores the light and continues to reject it and its influence… so sin continues to reign and wreak havoc on our individual lives as well as our sick world.
I recall someone saying that Hell was a party and they wanted to go there because all their friends will be there.
That my friend is a sad chilling epitaph… illustrating a life of ignorance and downright stupidity!
Here are some facts about sin and its effect on our eternity.
1) Sin is God’s enemy, and yours.
Jesus said… ‘There is no neutral ground… if you’re not on my side… you’re the enemy’ (Luke 11:23).
Neutrality and passivity aren’t options… you must treat sin like the enemy it is.
2) Be honest with yourself and God.
Don’t excuse sin as a “condition” or “tendency”.
You didn’t just make a bad judgment call…you sinned.
You may have had a troubled past, but today you have choices!
Choices for transformed life and living above the pain of this world caused by sin.
3) Don’t indulge in beating yourself up.
You’re not supposed to wallow in condemnation before acknowledging your sin.
Making yourself miserable doesn’t signify that you deserve forgiveness.
That comes by grace, through faith alone. (Ephesians 2:8)
Every second spent in self-condemnation is time stolen from you by Satan.
The moment that brings the acknowledgment of sin,.. also brings the cleansing of sin.
4) If you repeat the sin, repeat the confession.
“But Won’t God get tired of me coming to Him” you ask?
No. God accepted Jesus as a substitute for all your sins for all time, so He will never reject you.
Isaiah told God’s people, “Return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy…and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:7)
Above all… be patient with yourself.
Give the Holy Spirit time to develop in you… the strength needed to transcend your old nature and overcome your old sinful habits… and be assured… it will happen as you focus your priorities to develop a relationship with your Heavenly Father thru Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit.
(Philippians 1:6). Being confident of this… that He who has begun a good work in you… will perform it… complete it, in the Day of Christ.
Jesus said… "This is the verdict… Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed (John 3:19-21)
That’s the reason for the season!
This Christmas season, know that God has great plans for you.
Christ Jesus was sent to us as a gift from God to redeem us from darkness.
He has called you out of darkness to walk in His light.
Jesus is that light,
Good Day and Merry Christmas to you and your family!
(Luke 2:17) And when they had seen it, “they made known abroad… the saying which was told them concerning this child”.
As I have mentioned over the last couple of days, the Christmas season is upon us in full swing and from now until Christmas Day, the Gospel of Luke chapter 2, will probably be the most-read passage of Scripture thru-out the season.
And with that, there are several truths concerning the scriptural accounts of the Birth of Christ that stand out in my mind.
Now… let me digress for just a little bit and acknowledge that there are only two accounts of the Christmas Story within the four Gospels of the New Testament.
Matthew and Luke are the two Gospels written that give us any detail to this great historical event that is the focal point of Christmas.
For what ever the reason… Mark and John did not deem the birth of Christ or His child hood as much
a priority… as they did, recording the activities and the miracles performed by the Saviour… events proving His claim to be the Son of God and the long awaited Messiah.
Where as Matthew and Luke both focused on introducing their Gospel with the genealogy and birth of that Messiah/Saviour.
However both Matthew and Luke come from different cultural backgrounds and experiences that influenced their understanding of the events and the significance of them, surrounding the birth of Christ.
That’s why there are some differences within the dialogue found within the pages of the two Gospels.
Both writers wrote of the event (the birth of the Messiah the Savior the deliverer of the world) as they understood them transcribed from historical records… as well as from the differences of their respective cultures.
However those differences do not mean that either was wrong… or that one is more important than the other.
Both Gospels give a narrative revealing distinctive and important accounts of the birth of the Savior… and the important historical events that were happening around that birth.
Two different people looking at the same experience, but reporting them from a bias… influenced by their individual experiences of life and culture.
Luke was a doctor and a historian… as well as a disciple of Christ.
Matthew was a tax collector as well as a disciple of Jesus Christ.
They both told the same story… but because they looked at the historical events from different perspectives… they each brought out different aspects of the story.
Luke focused on Jesus as “the Savior” of all.
He focused on the lowly shepherds and the angel’s that brought the “glad tidings of great joy” concerning the Messiahs arrival to the shepherds the night of Jesus' birth.
The significance being that Jesus came to save everyone.
Matthew focused on the “Kingship” of Jesus.
He told about the Magi, kings from the east who brought gifts to Jesus the Messiah… King of kings and Lord of lords.
Because Matthew was a Jew, he was focused on the genealogy and the legitimacy of Jesus as the heir of King David, from who’s lineage the Messiah was prophesied to come from.
So with that, the fourth Christmas truth that I take from the Nativity story, the birth of Christ in Luke Chapter two… concerns the Word of the Lord and how we should respond to it.
When the shepherds visited Mary and Joseph and the baby in the manger…(Luke 2:17-18) says, “they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child… and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.”
I can’t even imagine what the shepherds’ stories must have been after seeing the Heavenly Host of angels in all of Heavens glory on that night, but I know it must have been powerful and beautiful and something to talk about.
Concerning the activities of the shepherds and the birth of her new born son, verse 19 says, “ Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”
Later verse 51 says, “His mother treasured all these things in her heart, after Jesus was found in the temple learning from the teachers”.
The things Mary heard about her son and the things she saw Him doing were beautiful treasures to her… and so they should be for all of us as well.
The stories we have in Scripture tell us about who Jesus is and what He did on this earth… and we should hold them dear in our hearts.
Where as Matthew and Luke both focused on introducing their Gospel with the genealogy and birth of that Messiah/Saviour.
However both Matthew and Luke come from different cultural backgrounds and experiences that influenced their understanding of the events and the significance of them, surrounding the birth of Christ.
That’s why there are some differences within the dialogue found within the pages of the two Gospels.
Both writers wrote of the event (the birth of the Messiah the Savior the deliverer of the world) as they understood them transcribed from historical records… as well as from the differences of their respective cultures.
However those differences do not mean that either was wrong… or that one is more important than the other.
Both Gospels give a narrative revealing distinctive and important accounts of the birth of the Savior… and the important historical events that were happening around that birth.
Two different people looking at the same experience, but reporting them from a bias… influenced by their individual experiences of life and culture.
Luke was a doctor and a historian… as well as a disciple of Christ.
Matthew was a tax collector as well as a disciple of Jesus Christ.
They both told the same story… but because they looked at the historical events from different perspectives… they each brought out different aspects of the story.
Luke focused on Jesus as “the Savior” of all.
He focused on the lowly shepherds and the angel’s that brought the “glad tidings of great joy” concerning the Messiahs arrival to the shepherds the night of Jesus' birth.
The significance being that Jesus came to save everyone.
Matthew focused on the “Kingship” of Jesus.
He told about the Magi, kings from the east who brought gifts to Jesus the Messiah… King of kings and Lord of lords.
Because Matthew was a Jew, he was focused on the genealogy and the legitimacy of Jesus as the heir of King David, from who’s lineage the Messiah was prophesied to come from.
So with that, the fourth Christmas truth that I take from the Nativity story, the birth of Christ in Luke Chapter two… concerns the Word of the Lord and how we should respond to it.
When the shepherds visited Mary and Joseph and the baby in the manger…(Luke 2:17-18) says, “they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child… and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.”
I can’t even imagine what the shepherds’ stories must have been after seeing the Heavenly Host of angels in all of Heavens glory on that night, but I know it must have been powerful and beautiful and something to talk about.
Concerning the activities of the shepherds and the birth of her new born son, verse 19 says, “ Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”
Later verse 51 says, “His mother treasured all these things in her heart, after Jesus was found in the temple learning from the teachers”.
The things Mary heard about her son and the things she saw Him doing were beautiful treasures to her… and so they should be for all of us as well.
The stories we have in Scripture tell us about who Jesus is and what He did on this earth… and we should hold them dear in our hearts.
Jesus said… further into his book in (Luke 4:4)… “man shall not live by bread alone but by every
word that proceeds from the mouth of God”.
(Colossians 3:16) tells us to “let the engrafted Word of God dwell in our hearts”.
That means that we should value the Word of God!
We should nurture it, we should provide room for it in our hearts and lives… and we should treasure
(Colossians 3:16) tells us to “let the engrafted Word of God dwell in our hearts”.
That means that we should value the Word of God!
We should nurture it, we should provide room for it in our hearts and lives… and we should treasure
it as we would any earthly possession of value… even more so!
The fact or truth that inspires me from this event with the shepherds on the hillside of Bethlehem so long ago… is how excited they were about the message and the “Glad Tidings of Good News” they had just heard from the angels… so much so… that they could not contain themselves and the bible says they went out into town and shared with everyone the good news and the events they had just witnessed on the hillside.
In my mind and heart there is nothing as important in our lives as the Word of God.
It is Gods “love letter” given to all of us as “Good News” for us to live our lives by.
The Bible is the greatest of instructional manuals for life.
(2nd Timothy 3:16-17) tells us “the ‘Word of God’ is good for instruction, for conviction, for correction and for training in righteousness, so that the child of God may be complete and fully equipped for every good work”.
So my question for each of us today is this.
Are we as excited about the good news of the birth of Christ as those shepherds were?
And are we as willing to share what we know about Jesus and His impact in our lives with others around us?
(Matthew 12:34) says… “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks”.
So today ask yourself, “what is in my heart concerning the ‘Good News’ of Christmas”?
Does it excite and motivate you to share it with others… as it did the shepherds on the hills outside of Bethlehem so long ago… and if not why not?
Or have you not understood… or experienced that “Good News” in your life.
The bible says that "he who has been forgiven much loves much.”
C.S. Lewis wrote… “To be a Christian means to forgive the "inexcusable" in others… because God
The fact or truth that inspires me from this event with the shepherds on the hillside of Bethlehem so long ago… is how excited they were about the message and the “Glad Tidings of Good News” they had just heard from the angels… so much so… that they could not contain themselves and the bible says they went out into town and shared with everyone the good news and the events they had just witnessed on the hillside.
In my mind and heart there is nothing as important in our lives as the Word of God.
It is Gods “love letter” given to all of us as “Good News” for us to live our lives by.
The Bible is the greatest of instructional manuals for life.
(2nd Timothy 3:16-17) tells us “the ‘Word of God’ is good for instruction, for conviction, for correction and for training in righteousness, so that the child of God may be complete and fully equipped for every good work”.
So my question for each of us today is this.
Are we as excited about the good news of the birth of Christ as those shepherds were?
And are we as willing to share what we know about Jesus and His impact in our lives with others around us?
(Matthew 12:34) says… “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks”.
So today ask yourself, “what is in my heart concerning the ‘Good News’ of Christmas”?
Does it excite and motivate you to share it with others… as it did the shepherds on the hills outside of Bethlehem so long ago… and if not why not?
Or have you not understood… or experienced that “Good News” in your life.
The bible says that "he who has been forgiven much loves much.”
C.S. Lewis wrote… “To be a Christian means to forgive the "inexcusable" in others… because God
has forgiven the "inexcusable" in you.”
So let me ask you… do you know how much God has forgiven you?
To truly be thankful children of our heavenly Father… we need a fresh revelation each day, at every single moment in our lives... a fresh revelation of “who” He is… and what Jesus has done for us on
So let me ask you… do you know how much God has forgiven you?
To truly be thankful children of our heavenly Father… we need a fresh revelation each day, at every single moment in our lives... a fresh revelation of “who” He is… and what Jesus has done for us on
the cross.
It is my prayer that this Christmas… you will experience the “Glad Tidings of Great Joy”… that were brought to the shepherds by those angels… and that you... like those shepherds will be moved... and yes maybe even compelled to take that good news to the world around you.
That you and I would be become overwhelmed with passion to share that experience with the world around us... until the day He comes again.
Good day!
Luke 2:15) “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
Truth #3 When the Lord makes a promise… we can trust He will keep it!
The shepherds heard from the angels that the baby had been born, and they didn’t doubt it.
Verse 15 says, “when the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
They heard the message… and they immediately acted upon it… never hesitating or questioning what the angel of the Lord had said to them was true… and we should do the same in our lives.
We have the Scriptures as a tangible documentation of the Lord’s promises and truths… and we should act on them without questioning His faithfulness and trustworthiness.
(James 1:6) Teaches us not to doubt Gods promises.
“Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault… and it will be given to him.
But he must ask in faith with out doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea blown and tossed by the wind.
That man should not expect to receive anything from the Lord”.
(Hebrews 11:6) “With out faith it is impossible to please God”.
Earlier in the verse (Hebrews 11:1) the writer tells us… “Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence not yet seen”
The coming of the “Prince of Peace”… the “Saviour” of humanity… the “Deliverer”… the “Lamb that taketh away the sin if the world… is a promise from God that is manifested through faith.
Faith is trusting and believing that God meant what He said and said what He meant.
The message… the promises in Gods Word… has been given to each of us to choose to do with as we please or as we believe.
God does not force us to believe it or accept it!
And if we “choose” to believe… “then all things are possible to them that are willing to believe” (Mark 9:23)
We have a choice!
As with the shepherds that night on the hillside long ago... we have a choice!
To believe and then search out the wonderful promises of God by faith… or if you choose not to believe… (that is your choice)… but know that it will often be filled with disappointments and unfulfilled purpose.
It is perfectly ok for you to stay camped on the hillside watching over your sheep, and living life doing the “same old same old”… enduring the trials of life.
God won’t force you to believe, but let me tell you this!
If you choose to make the choice to follow Him and search Him out, regardless of your trepidations, anxieties and yes fear… then you can experience a life that is both satisfying, fulfilling, and filled with the peace of God which passes all understanding.
You don’t have to live in fear, doubt, worry, and disbelief.
It is perfectly ok for you to stay camped on the hillside watching over your sheep, and living life doing the “same old same old”… enduring the trials of life.
God won’t force you to believe, but let me tell you this!
If you choose to make the choice to follow Him and search Him out, regardless of your trepidations, anxieties and yes fear… then you can experience a life that is both satisfying, fulfilling, and filled with the peace of God which passes all understanding.
You don’t have to live in fear, doubt, worry, and disbelief.
(Romans 12:3) “For God has given unto every man (and woman)… the measure of faith”
God made a promise to the world… and He fulfilled it... sealed it with the virgin birth of Christ… the babe in the manger who came to be “the Saviour of the world”… removing the separation between humanity and the Creator…that was caused by sin thereby bringing "peace on earth, and goodwill toward all men"
Not only is Christmas all about Jesus… but its all about sin and its demise... its all about the intentional will of God toward you and I.
Like the shepherds that night who said “lets go see what this is all about what the Lord has told us”…
Why don’t you activate the faith that God has given you… and choose to see what this is all about… choose to believe?
Again in (Mark 9:23) Jesus said… “if you can believe all things are possible”!
What’s possible?
All things are possible but the most poignant… is a renewed relationship with God because of Jesus birth.
With Gods help it’s yours if you want it… because of the babe that was born in the manger so long ago.
But you have to get up… and you have to believe… and you have to receive it by faith…
As the shepherds did that night so long ago… go and search it out for your self.
We are here to help you in your search.
Merry Christmas everybody!
Good Day!
(Luke 2:10) “Fear not… for, behold I bring you good tidings of great joy… which shall be to all people”.
For the next couple of days I’m focusing on the wonderful truths that we see in the Nativity Story found in Luke’s Gospel chapter two.
#2) God’s glory is worthy of our praise, even when we feel afraid!
When the angel of the Lord stood before the shepherds who were keeping watch over their sheep, (Luke 2:9) say’s… “they were terrified.”
I would be too!
Afraid and probably trying to make sense of what they were seeing and hearing, wondering if they were dreaming… or if this really was happening, yet the angel’s first words were “Do not be afraid.”
Someone wrote somewhere in the hundreds of books that I have read and studies over the years, that there are more than 360 references in the bible that say “fear not” or “don’t be afraid”.
One could say in fact, that there is a “fear not”… for each day of the year!
And the truth is, God does not want any one of us to walk in fear!
He wants us to live each day understanding and experiencing His words of comfort… “Fear not!”
Many people say… “It’s a nice thought to say that there are 365 ‘fear not’s’ in the Bible, but it’s not true.”
Indeed, there is not a version of the Bible that says 365 times, “fear not.”
However the King James Version of the Bible does reference the words “fear not” or “be not afraid” or do not be afraid… more times than I can count.
And in fact the word “fear” is spoken of over 500 times in the King James Version of the bible.
Furthermore, in addition to the “fear not’s”… the Bible also teaches us to “fear God”… which really means to “reverence” God alone and do not fear anyone or anything else.
Expanding the search to look at the Bible verses encouraging us to receive God’s peace and strength when we’re worried or anxious… would add many more “fear not” scripture references.
This is why I say that there are more than 365 “fear not’s” in the Bible.
In (2nd Timothy 1:7) Paul also told his young prodigy Timothy “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and self-control”.
The first response of the shepherds to the Angelic host announcing Christ’s birth on the hillside of Bethlehem… was to be afraid.
Adams first response after He and Eve had sinned in the Garden of Eden was to be afraid.
(Genesis 3:10)… “and they hid themselves from His presence”
Yesterday we looked at the simplicity of Jesus birth and the same simplicity with which He invites each of us to come to Him and to the Kingdom of God.
He referenced little children in His example and commented on their innocence and simple acceptance of who He was.
There is no fear in the heart of a child and as a matter of fact I have read the writings of many psychologists whom tell us that fear is a “learned response” to the experiences of life.
All through the scriptures I read stories of the Creator meeting with His people and the some of His first words of greeting are “fear not”.
As we approach the day that history has celebrated as “the birth of the Savior of humanity”… know and understand that God does not want you to be afraid of Him.
Reverence Him yes, respect Him yes, but don’t let your self be inhibited by fear or anxiousness concerning coming to Him and letting Him be involved in your life.
(1st John 4:18) say’s “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment”.
The New Testament of the Bible teaches that we have been delivered from the wrath of God… therefor we do not have to worry about punishment as such.
(Romans 5:9-10) …“having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
For if… when we were His enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son… much more then… having been reconciled… we shall be saved by His life".
(John 3:16) says “For God so Loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever would believe on Him would not perish but would have everlasting life.
As we approach the Christmas celebration of Christ’s birth… that same greeting, that same invitation is extended to humanity still.
Jesus said in (Matthews Gospel 11:28) “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest”.
You don’t need to fear God,
He has a great love for you and wants you to experience that love today…
Merry Christmas everybody!
Good Day!
Good Day!