They Saw His Star

 

Matt 2:2,11
“For we have seen His star ...(Magi) fell down, and worshiped him: and when they had opened their treasures...”

Twas the night  before Christmas, the Magi followed the star to find the promised Messiah. The night before Christmas, they went to King Herod to inquire, but the influencers of that time did not have a clue of any star in the sky. As the Magi continued their quest, the star appeared once again to guide and direct them. The timeline of their journey was about a couple of weeks after the birth of Jesus, but at last the star stood still, and they arrived to find Mary and Joseph in a house where Jesus was under their care. God’s gift of Love had arrived, and the Magi’s hearts were stricken with praise and adoration. They recognized that this was the Son of God who would change the world. They fell down on their knees, no doubt, lifting their voices to the heavens and gave thanks to the new born king. The Magi opened their treasures and presented them to the Son of God. The gifts were symbolic, recognizing the significance of His coming. Gold as a symbol of kingship on earth, frankincense (an incense) as a symbol of deity, and myrrh (an embalming oil) as a symbol of death. He, the God man, will die, shed His blood to set men free, but will rule the world as King and Lord for all eternity. As the Magi fell down, so will every knee bow and confess that He is Lord.  Let us give Christ the treasure of our hearts. May we open our treasures and give them all to Jesus. He gave His life for us, let us give our heart to Him in full surrender to His will and desires. Let us bow the knee now and worship Him, for He is worthy. 

Receiving the Gift Through Confession

 1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Along with John 3:16, this scripture is used to stress what it means to believe in Jesus Christ. God gave His Son to die and paid the price for our sins, so that we would not die and go to eternal damnation. The message of the Gospel is one of good news, and the good news is that we don’t have to perish. But the good news does come with conditions. Believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and to confess our sinfulness to Him, and accept His forgiveness. It is not God's desire that anyone would die in their sins and go to hell. The message to believers is to go out and tell others of this great gift. This is the greatest gift given to man. We celebrate at this time of the year Christmas to tell the world that God gave the most important gift to mankind when He gave His son to be the supreme sacrifice for the sins of the world. Many will go through this season with the knowledge that Jesus came to this world, and lived among us, and celebrate this great event in history, but many have yet to come to the foot of the cross and confess their sins and to be cleansed from all unrighteousness. This is the reason for the season: Jesus, who was not only born into this world, but also gave his life as the greatest gift man has ever received. We received this gift by confessing our sins. He is faithful to forgive. 

The Love of God

 John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

The old familiar Bible verse rings loud and clear during the Christmas season. Truly, this is the center of the Christmas story. God sent His Son to earth in the form of a baby. Wise men from the East saw the star and came to worship Him. The Shepherd gathered in the field and heard the angel proclaim His coming. Mary pondered in her heart the miracle of the newborn baby. The demonstration of God's love was manifested to the world when He gave Himself to die for the sins of the world. The song says it so well, “The love of God is far greater than tongue or pen can ever tell; it goes beyond the highest star, and reaches to the lowest hell. The wand'ring child is reconciled by God's beloved Son.”- Frederick M. Lehman. Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us, God’s love poured down from heaven above. His love reaches you and me desiring fellowship, a relationship that will be everlasting. Jesus grew to adulthood, showed us how we were to love one another. His love allowed the Roman soldiers to pierce the nails in His hand. His love took on the sins of the world. “He paid the debt He did not owe, I owe a debt I could not pay.” The Christmas story, the greatest love story ever told! Oh, The love of God, how rich and pure! How measureless and strong!

Exceeding Great Joy

 Luke 2:10, Mat 2:10
The angel brought “good tidings of great joy” to the shepherds… The wise men, when they saw the star, “rejoiced with exceeding great joy”

The shepherd’s eyes were amazed as they heard the good news! The Messiah was born, the Savior who will change the world had condensed into the human race. Like  the wise men, they probably rejoiced with exceeding great joy. Their joy exceeded the merriment of being happy. Joy filled their hearts to overflowing. They saw the significance of this historical event. 

Greeting others with, “Merry Christmas” is to wish people a happy holiday season as they gather together with friends and family. Smiles are seen on parents and grandparent’s faces as they watch the children unwrap their gifts, excitement in the air as the child opens the present they have been wanting for days. No doubt, happiness fills the home. The songwriter penned it well:
 “It's the most wonderful time of the year. 
With the kids jingle belling. 
And everyone tells you to be of good cheer.”
But to the believer, Christmas is more than being merry with our loved ones, it is a time of great joy! A celebration and remembering the joy of salvation that Jesus came to save people from their sins. Exceeding great joy transcends human emotion. It is an eternal joy that is sealed in the heart that all is well with our soul. Jesus came to earth that we might have joy and have it more abundantly.  Circumstances in life may not always be filled with happy emotions and merriment, but it can be filled with great joy that we are a child of the king, and he knows us by name. As welook at the star that hangs in the church or in your home, may we also rejoice with exceeding great joy, knowing that Jesus came and died for us. In Him, we have real joy. Joy unspeakable and full of glory!

Advent:Our Hope

 1 Thess 2:19
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

As we approach the 1st Advent  of Christmas, we take time to prepare our hearts with the expectation of hope that Christ brings to the world. For many, Christmas is a time that families gather together, exchange gifts, partake together with food and pleasant conversation. This may not be the case in every home, but as a general consensus this is the picture we conjure. A time of goodwill and promoting peace on earth. Unfortunately, in the homes of many families, this is all it means. There may be a word or two about the celebration of the birth of Jesus giving lip service to His coming. To the true believer, the coming of Jesus is the hope that fills the heart. It is a hope that allows us to live each day knowing that He came not only to bring peace to earth, but to bring peace to the heart. We hope not as making a wish, but our hope is built on nothing less that Jesus Christ our redeemer, a hope and faith that He will someday return. As in His first coming, our hope is not in vain. His promises are true, Hope will someday burst the eastern sky, and He shall appear, and we who are in Christ will be caught up together in the air and be with Him forevermore. For this is our hope, joy, and crown of rejoicing as we enter this Christmas season.

God Makes Everything Good

 Gen. 1:31

And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good…

From the beginning, we were created in the image of God. In the likeness of his holiness. Not created to be a god, but to have a relationship with a holy God. We were made good and without sin. “Everything He made was very good”. Good turned to bad when Adam and Eve yielded to temptation. Satan deceived them, causing them to disobey what God forbidden them to do. God’s good creation fell from having a good heart to a sinful heart of unbelief. The sin was not in the fruit, but in their unbelief to trust God and obey his commandments. This is a sad story given to us in His word. But, the story does not end there. Christmas came, and Christ was born. Born to save us from our sins. Restoring the goodness that we lost when He died and paid the supreme sacrifice for our sins. Sin has been nailed to the cross. The blood of Christ has been shed that we may once again have pure fellowship with the God of creation. We who were born in sin, can be made good when we accept Christ as our Redeemer and Savior. God is so good, and He makes everything good.

Observe All Things

Matt 28:20- Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

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There are many events throughout the year that we observed. The government has set aside certain national holidays that we as a nation have determine worthy of taking a day to take notice of their importance. Today is President’s Day, we pause to recognize all the presidents in our nation that have led our country. Regardless of our political leaning, we realized that it is not necessarily the man we lift up, but the position he holds. Religions across the world have put aside days in the calendar year to observe special days that are significant to their faith. As Christian, there is a diversity of observance, but Easter and Christmas is a common thread. Jesus, through His word has taught us that we are to observe all things that He has commanded us to do. These observations are not a special day we set apart to do, but they are things that we are to observed every day of our lives. We are to observe time alone with God. Every day we observed that He is God and is in control and His great love is for us. We are to observe how we love one another, and observe to live a life that is holy and pleasing to Him. It is good that we set apart days to focus historical events, but observing His will and doing His will is what is expedient.

Ponder On Jesus

Luke 2:19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

Christmas activities are coming to an end. Potlucks, church dinners, recitals, parties, programs, caroling, and white elephant gift exchanges. All were done in the spirit of the Christmas season. Christmas Eve and Day will wrap up the festivities of this special occasion. But, have we taken the time to ponder the reason for the season. Yes, we know the real reason, but do we really ponder the wonderful love of God. God, who so loved the world, sent His Son to earth to live and die among us. To be the everlasting gift of salvation. The gift of forgiveness, the burden of sin is gone, our sins cast into the sea of forgetfulness. His Spirit given to us to abide in us, and lead us on this earthly journey. Ponder the gift of hope, love, joy and peace. Ponder and think on Jesus. Like Mary, let us take time to ponder these things in our heart.

He Came Down

John 6:38 “ For I came down from Heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me.”-

What more can the Father give than to send His Son to earth to live and die for us. He came down from Heaven, not just to show us how to live, but to give us a new life to live. Christmas is about Christ coming to earth and living the life of a mortal, but giving His life as the God-Man. He came down to Heaven as a babe, born in a manger with the royal blood of God the Father. He who knew no sin, became sin for us. Taking away our iniquity and the penalty of sin. He came down from Heaven to do the will of the Father. We bow at the cross, confessing our sins, and are now the light of the world that others will see the Christ who came down from Heaven. 

The Son of the Highest

Luke 1:26-35

In due time God sent His son into the world to save the world from sin. The mission of Christ was to take on the flesh of Man and show His love by giving His life for all humanity. His name speaks of His mission. Jehovah salvation, Emmanuel, God is with us. Jesus, The reason we share and show love and good cheer to all mankind. May the birth of Christ be the focus of our celebration during every Christmas holiday.

Angel Sent From God - Gabriel was sent from God

• God’s timing- God who at sundry times…
• To the City of Nazareth

Appeared to Mary – And the angel came in unto her

• Anticipation of all Jewish women-
• Chosen of God- God has a plan for all.
• Favored, not worshiped. Only God can answer prayer

Astounding Announcement – Shall conceived a son

• You are special to God
• Immaculate conception
• A name above all other names- Jehovah is salvation

Afraid and Fearful – She was troubled

• Such visitations did not occur in those day
• Fear of the unknown
• Confused by the angels words

Apprehension of Mary – How shall this thing be?

• Inquiry more than doubting.
• Reputation and Image- What will others think?

Answers From the Angels – And the angel answered

• This Child is not born of Man
• The Father is this child will be the Holy Ghost
• Both God and Man – The Son of God made flesh.