Sup with the Christmas message? Well, it's a very unique Message for you... but it's really not enough just to hear it, or know all about it.... we each need to decide and receive the ultimate Christmas Gift -- Christ.
Pondering on Noel some today. Musing on the message -- the CHRISTmas Message. Believer, it's about Him and...
No pretending or presumption!
Pause, personally pray, then proceed.. with power and perfect purpose. Fabulous..in Him -- LIFE! With God's perfect word which is faultless.. forever, flawless, fantastic, and unfailing.
Q. But why entry here for the living word via swaddling cloths in a lowly manger? A. Cuz the angel said that'd be 'the sign.' I like how the manger and tomb couldn't hold him, Jesus.
See what the Bible says in Luke 2:12 — “And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
He came down, because we couldn't go up.. no matter how we tried. Jesus came here in the lowest possible way. He was so SO young in Bethlehem, but would have liked that the Shepherds where there!!! Question for ya...
Believing is not hearing and the shepherds believed! Why the shepherds..the first to receive the Gospel at Christmas time? A. The humblest of peeps--they were humble enough to receive the Message the angel brought about a humble Savior's entry. They responded, didn't say on the hill -- they believed and shared the #Message. Repeated It. The shepherds were the first real converts! You too can be.
"The angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you Good News of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.'" Read Luke 2.
He was oppressed and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, for the transgression of my people to whom the stroke was due? His grave was assigned with wicked men, yet he was with a rich man in his death, because he had done no violence, nor was there any deceit in his mouth.
Happy Christmas to you! As we read in the Old Testament Isaiah didn't understand fully who this Son of God servant is. Does now, but back then Isaiah knew at least five things about the coming of the good Shepherd -- this King of kings.
-- He knew that we are all rebel-subjects against our Shepherd King—God. We've all fallen short and sinned (53:6).
-- He knew that God was sending his Servant who would and will be rejected by the rebels (53:3).
-- He knew that in being rejected, he was not failing in his mission, but was becoming a ransom and substitute for the rebel subjects (53:5. I'm talking about sinners kinda like me): "He was pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities."
-- He knew that nations and kings that had not known or understood any of these things would by faith be.. be sprinkled, totally cleansed by the Servant.... and their sight would be restored to see him for who he is (52:15).
-- He, Isaiah, knew deep down in his knower.. that the final result of all this would be that this Servant will be high and lifted up and greatly exalted so that the kings of all the earth would shut their mouths because of Him in reverent silence (52:13, 15).
The Message of HOPE, of JOY, of PEACE would be wrapped up in this GOOD SHEPHERD, in this Person (God) who came in a lowly manger.
Lift up your eyes and see, Heaven is closer than we know. Lift up your voice and say, Jesus, you're closer than we can feel. Yup, He is there for you -- so near! He hears. Turn and trust.. Him. He's here. We each have to humble ourselves and walk through the Door. Believe. It's not enough to hear it, or know about it, we need to do it. We must receive God the Father's free Christmas Gift. Follow Him. Facebook.com/shareJesus
