Do Not Depart

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Shepherds, Kings, and the Gifts They Bring

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I love to wrap gifts … finding coordinating papers and ribbons, looking for the perfect embellishments and gift tags.  I love the way my tree looks with all the presents tumbling from it and the joy of handing someone a present chosen especially for them and wrapped beautifully.

But I’ve noticed something – it doesn’t matter how lovely the paper and bows are if the gift inside isn’t meaningful.

Likewise, a thoughtful, perfect gift handed to someone in a WalMart sack can be the favorite present of the year.

We are constantly trying to impart this simple truth to our daughter:  It’s what is on the inside that matters.  In gifts and in people.

I suppose that’s why I find such grace in the gifts  brought to the Christ Child.   The first gift laid before Him was simple, wrapped in shepherd’s garb … presence.  These men, who had heard the angels sing, were there, in the stable.  That’s all … they simply came to the Babe bringing themselves.

Isn’t that the first step for all of us?  We have nothing to offer, nothing of value in ourselves.  We bring what we have – our filthy rags of righteousness – and when we lay them down wholly before Him who is Holy, we find ourselves changed, made new.

For if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come.                     1 Corinthians 5:17

But there are other gifts we find laid before the Christ Child … the presents of the Magi.   I’ve heard many explanations for why these gifts were given and what they represented.   I love that each word in Scripture is rich with meaning and detail.

However, for this day, may we consider that these gifts may also reflect the presents we bring to our Redeemer?

  • The Magi brought gold to the King of Kings, the Son whose Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills.  May we offer back to the Comforter of widows and orphans from our abundance that He will multiply in His economy the present we offer?
  • The Magi brought frankincense to the One who intercedes on our behalf, the Risen Son who sits beside His Father.  May our present be the fragrant aroma of our prayers, rising with the sacred incense as an offering to the Most High God?
  • The Magi brought myrrh to Him who was pierced for our transgressions, wore our stripes on His back.  May our present be the gifting of healing grace and words to those who are weary, weak, and burdened around us, that they might encounter the Great Physician through our faithfulness?

While our wrappings are all different, we can be assured that our Father, who has lovingly created each of us in His own image, desires what is inside each of us. When we begin by giving Him our presence, the overflow of the gifts He bestows on us will be reflected in the multitude of presents we give back to Him and to those with whom we interact.

Our Father, the Giver of every good and perfect gift, on this day we thank You for the most good and most perfect Gift of Your Son … born, crucified, raised, and reigning on high.  We lay before You what we have … our presence, our hearts to change and conform as You desire.  We offer to You the presents of our abundance – graciously given to us by You, of our prayers – continual connection of our hearts to Yours, and of our words and deeds – humbly used to point in all ways, at all times, to You alone.  In the name of Jesus, our Savior, Redeemer, and King.  Amen.

O Worship the King!

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What emotional response does Christmas foster in you? Joy? Peace? Love? Hope? The birth of Christ should produce these feelings in us. But what about worship? When you contemplate the arrival of the long-awaited Savior do you ever fall on your knees in worship?

The shepherds worshipped. They glorified and praised God for “all the things they had heard and seen” (Luke 2:20). The Magi worshipped. In fact, they spent several months traveling close to a thousand miles just to worship the baby King (Matt 2:2).

Today, let’s focus on two Jesus worshippers we often forget about – Simeon and Anna. Their story is told in Luke 2:21-40. (If you have time, read it now.) About forty days after Jesus’ birth, Mary and Joseph went to the temple in Jerusalem for Mary’s purification rite and to dedicate and redeem their first-born son.

At the temple, probably in the court of the women, the little family encountered these two faithful servants of God. The Gospel writer, Luke, describes Simeon as righteous and devout; filled with the Holy Spirit; and eagerly expecting the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. Luke also informs us that Anna, who had been a widow for 84 years, constantly worshipped in the temple through fasting and prayer.

As soon as they saw Jesus in the temple, Simeon and Anna realized that they had just laid eyes on the “redemption of Israel,” the promised One of God, the Messiah. They responded with worship – praise and thanksgiving to God for the fulfillment of His promise. (Here’s one of my blogs that lists OT prophecies fulfilled in Jesus.)

Simeon and Anna quickly responded with worship to God’s activity because their hearts were prepared and their eyes were open. Here are a few things I noticed about these two godly worshippers.

  • They trusted in God’s faithfulness to keep His promises.
  • They watched and waited for God’s activity with eager anticipation.
  • They were sensitive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

How often do we respond to God’s activity with worship? Are our hearts and minds prepared to look for and recognize His work around us?

God’s plan of salvation for all mankind was set in motion on that first Christmas. Jesus Christ, chosen to be our Savior before the creation of the world, stepped into time to carry out that plan. At just the right time and place in history he came. Without Christmas there would be no Easter. Without Jesus’ birth there would be no sacrifice for our sins. We would still be lost, separated from God for eternity. That should move us to fall on our faces in worship of the One who always keeps His promises.

Does Christmas move you to worship? How should we respond to God’s plan of redemption? Would you share your thoughts and hearts with us today?

Was Burl Ives right?

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Does the sound of Burl Ives’ voice take you back to childhood? “Silver and gold, silver and gold, everyone wishes for silver and gold … How do you measure its worth? Just by the pleasure it gives here on earth…”

 

Since we want Jesus to take center stage in our Christmas, we’ve considered how to celebrate in a Christ-centered way. Stephanie shared  Tips for a Christ Centered Christmas, and Teri Lynne gave ideas for Scripture-Centered Traditions.  There’s no shortage of holiday bling, and Burl Ives left no doubt silver and gold are part of complete Christmas celebrations.  Can we deck the halls and do it for God’s glory?


The people of Israel brought precious metals and jewels to adorn God’s temple. Even in the wilderness, the outside of the tabernacle was made of rough hides, but the inside was full of gold and precious things reflecting the One being worshiped.  He reveals where true value lies when He addresses our own adornment. God hasn’t put a ban on the beautiful.

Your adornment must not be merely external–braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.  (1 Peter 3:3-4)

Instead of being wrong to deck and adorn, God wants our focus to be on a clean heart, focused on Him. He wants us to know that, while our eyes are attracted to beauty, He wants us to concentrate on what matters most.

How much better to get wisdom than    gold,    to get insight rather than    silver!    (Prov. 16:16)

Decking the halls helps us focus on the Reason for the Season, though the world’s bling can’t begin to reflect the majesty of the King who took on flesh and was born in Bethlehem.

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as    silver or gold    that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors,     but with the precious blood of Christ,     a lamb without blemish or defect.    (1 Pt. 1:18-19)

Instead of tossing out traditional Christmas decorations, begin with what God treasures and use beautiful things to draw attention to what’s on God’s mind.  As lovers of the Christ of Christmas, let’s be known for what we want as our centerpiece, not what we reject.

Suggestions for Decking the Halls with Meaning:

  • Show the Light has come to the world by stringing white lights, lighting a single white candle, or putting a light out in the darkness of your yard or forest.
  • The incarnation is a display of Christ’s humility. Place a golden crown on a bed of burlap as  centerpiece. Write Phil. 2:5-8 on a card and tuck it under the crown.
  • Jesus is God’s gift to the world; we see gifts of worship offered to Him. Wrap a royal gift as your table centerpiece, and when you give gifts to each other, talk about how it’s a reminder of God’s generous love gift to us.
  • Salvation rests on Christmas. Use the candy cane story to read together and discuss Jesus’ sacrifice. Use white lace on your counter top or table, placing a red amaryllis in the center to represent the blood of the baby who grew to be a man.

God doesn’t want us to eliminate adornment; He wants us to use it to celebrate what is truly to be treasured.

Burl Ives was not right. We don’t measure the value of silver and gold by our enjoyment. We can’t measure the majesty of the one it reflects, but we can celebrate Him with earthly expressions of our heavenly Babe King!

Silver and gold, silver and gold. Jesus our King deserves silver and gold.
We can not measure His worth, but we know He came to redeem men on earth.
Silver and gold, silver and gold, means so much more when we see
silver and gold decorations hung for the King of Kings!

Deck away, Scripture Dig friends, and may we glorify our Jesus in each beauty we display!

25 Tips for a Christ Centered Christmas

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Do you struggle with keeping Christ the focus of your Christmas? From Black Friday to Christmas day we are often distracted from the Savior we are celebrating. Why is it so easy to get caught up in it all when we know Jesus truly is the reason for the season.

During the Christmas season, we have an opportunity to reach people who are in need.

Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Sometimes we just need a plan or an idea to help us shift our celebratory gears. Below are 25 ways to help us keep Christ the focus of our Christmas. Perhaps they will help us all do some of those good works God prepared for us to do.

Here we go:

1. No tree. Place a large manger scene in your living room instead. Place your gifts in front of the manger.

2. Ornaments with the various names and titles of Jesus on them. (You can create your own & make it a family time craft event)

3. Throughout the month of December, read the Bible with your family at dinnertime and focus on passages that teach who Jesus is and what He has done for us.

4. Teach your children of Jesus’ sacrificial love by taking them shopping for those who are unable to give anything in return.

5. Determine to give a tangible gift to Jesus. Put it in a box, wrap it and put it under the tree. On Christmas day, explain why  you are giving that particular gift to Jesus.

6. Give the gift of time to a particular ministry to show the love of Jesus. (A homeless shelter, a children’s home, a hospital, ect…) Or write cards or give gifts to a family of a prisoner.

7. Hold a birthday party for Jesus. (You may want to let your children know it’s not the actual “day” of His birth, but a time we celebrate Him)

8. Invite a widow or someone who is alone to spend Christmas with your family.

9. Create a family Christmas play. Practice throughout November & December. Put out flyers in your neighborhood and do the play in your front lawn on Christmas eve.

10. Play “Jesus” Christmas music all month long.

11. Organize a group to go caroling during Christmas.

12. Do random acts of giving in Jesus name. (Pay for the person’s meal behind you, rake the neighbor’s lawn, ect…)

13. Take food to a family in need.

14. Buy some gifts and take to the hospital to give to those who are in long term or critical care.

15. Put a play on or sing Christmas carols at a local nursing home.

16. Help your children earn money to buy gifts for Operation Christmas Child or a local children’s home.

17. Help your children earn money to give to a missionary.

18. Help your children earn money to buy gifts for a missionary child on the field.

19. Organize a coat and/or blanket round-up for a homeless shelter near you.

20. Make or purchase gifts to give to your neighbors. Especially the ones you are trying to reach for Christ.

21. Bake goodies for your neighbors, family and friends.

22. Make your indoor and outdoor decorations reflect that Jesus really is the reason for the season.

23. Help your church collect gifts for a family in need.

24. Send Christmas gifts and cards to military personel, their families.

25. Share Jesus with as many people as you can between now and Christmas.

Christmas is such a wonderful time of year. It’s the time the world is reminded that God loves us so much that He sent His only begotten Son so we could spend eternity with Him. It’s the time we reflect on the earthly life of Christ…from the cradle to the cross. It’s the time we celebrate Jesus and all that He is and all that He’s done.

I know you probably have a few ideas of your own. How do you keep Jesus the focus of your family’s Christmas? I’d love for you to share some of the ways you maintain a Christ centered Christmas!

Scripture-Centered Traditions

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From Christmas trees to candy canes, stockings to Santa Claus, Christmas is a holiday fraught with tradition.   While there are countless articles and blogs that explain the history of each tradition for this season, at Scripture Dig we want to share with you a few traditions and ideas that focus on the Word of God while sharing the beauty of the Word-become-Flesh.

Our desire here is to encourage you to dig into Scripture and use that as the foundation for every aspect of your life.  And during this time of year, we want to continue to point you back to the Bible as you celebrate this most precious holiday … the birth of our Lord.

The Advent Wreath

The Advent wreath is one of my favorite Christmas traditions.  I remember the weekly lighting of the candles at my church growing up.  There is something so beautiful about setting aside time to anticipate the Coming of the Christ.  While the particular details of the Advent wreath vary in different church backgrounds, the foundation is the same.  Beginning with the First Sunday of Advent, the lighting of a candle can be accompanied by a Bible reading and prayers. An additional candle is lit during each subsequent week until, by the last Sunday before Christmas, all four candles are lit. Some Advent wreaths include a fifth, “Christ” candle which can be lit at Christmas.

The Scriptures read with each candle are as follows:

  1. The Candle of Hope: Representing the hope and promise of the coming Lord, this candle reminds us of the hope we have in Christ and the promise of eternity with Him.  Scripture associated with this candle includes Isaiah 11:1-10 and/or Isaiah 7:10-14, 9:6-7; Isaiah 11:1-5 and/or Jeremiah 33:14-16.
  2. The Candle of Preparation: Representing His light and our preparation, this candle affirms our own need to prepare for His coming.  Scripture associated with this candle includes Psalm 25:1-10 and/or Psalm 27:1-7, 18-19 and/or Micah 5:2 and/or Matthew 2:1-12.
  3. The Candle of Joy: This candle reminds us of the joyful news the angel brought for all man.  Scripture associated with this candle includes 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 and/or Romans 15:4-13 and/or Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38
  4. The Candle of Love: Representing the love of the Father, this candle reminds us of the great gift of God the Father and His love for us in sending His Son.   Scripture associated with this candle includes Matthew 3:1-12 and/or Luke 21:25-36 and/or Luke 2:8-20.

Many traditions also include a fifth, center candle which is the Christ Candle.  Representing the incarnation – the very meaning of this season – this candle reminds us of the Christ, the Spotless Lamb of God sent to pay for our own sin.  Verses read with this candle include Luke 2:1-20; Psalm 100; Revelation 3:20-21.

The Jesse Tree

The Jesse Tree is a depiction of the lineage of Christ through Jesse, the father of King David.  This beautiful tradition walks us through the genealogy of Christ and helps us gain an understanding of how all of Scripture breathes His name … from Genesis through Revelation, it is Him – Logos, the Word-become-Flesh – who is the promise and the fulfillment of the promise all in one.

The beautiful, full-of-grace Ann Voskamp has created an incredible {and FREE!} devotion book and set of ornaments to be used for a Jesse Tree and I highly recommend that you read the devotions even if you choose not to create an actual Jesse Tree.  Walking through Scripture in this manner is a powerful way to prepare your own heart for the wonder and beauty of THE Gift of Christmas.

The Gospel of Luke

Last year, my husband mentioned he was reading the Gospel of  Luke throughout December.   There are 24 chapters of this book and so he would finish on Christmas Eve.  I joined him in that endeavor last year and have continued that practice again this year.   Reading through the life of Christ as we move closer to the celebration of His birth has been a transforming experience for me.   I cannot begin to explain the depth of meaning I found last year as I took Communion during our church’s Christmas Eve service having just read of Christ’s resurrection earlier that day.

I encourage you to make Scripture an integral part of your Christmas preparation and tradition … and would love to hear from you of other ways you have incorporated the Word into your celebration.

{Image from msormann via flickr}

Why Jesus Came

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As soon as I finished storing the leftover Thanksgiving turkey in Tupperware, I began putting up the tree and cluttering every surface of our house with nativity scenes, reindeer, poinsettias, and twinkly lights. Every year our family – like many of you – goes to great lengths to celebrate the birth of Jesus. But do we ever slow down to seriously contemplate why He came?

A couple of years ago, God drew my attention to several statements Jesus made that included the phrase “I came” or “I have come.” Of course, I had read them many times before, but had never considered them in the context of Christmas. As I searched the Gospels I found more than a dozen of these “I came…” statements. As I studied them, Christmas took on a deeper and richer meaning for me. This year, I would like to share them with you. I pray God would use His Words to enrich your Christmas celebration and foster worship of Him!

Jesus’ “I came” statements fall into three general categories, so we will look at them in those groups. I did not include all the passages themselves due to space. I encourage you to read these verses during your quiet time between now and Christmas. Use them to reflect on our gift of a Savior!

Group One: Jesus came to be the Father’s representative

Jesus made it very clear that He came to reveal the Father to the people. He never did or said or initiated anything on His own. He came in complete submission and obedience to the Father. He sought to please the Father and bring Him glory.

1. John 6:38 – Jesus did not operate from a personal agenda. He came only to do the Father’s will.

2. John 12:27 – He came to obey whatever the Father directed, even if it meant suffering.

3. Matthew 5:17 – Jesus came to complete what the Father initiated, including the Law and prophecy, not to change or abolish it.

Group Two: Jesus came to carry out the Father’s mission of salvation

Jesus came as the Father’s representative to fulfill the Father’s will. And the Father’s will was to provide redemption for all mankind. Jesus was His agent of redemption.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him (John 3:16-17).”

4. Mark 2:17 – Jesus came to call sinners and heal the spiritually sick.

5. Luke 19:10 – Jesus came to seek and to save the lost.

6. John 10:10 – Jesus came to provide abundant life.

7. John 9:39 – Jesus came to give “sight” to those who had been blind to spiritual things. He opened their understanding so they could receive Him.

8. John 12:46-47 – Jesus came as a light to save. The Light of the world draws people out of spiritual darkness.

Group Three: Jesus came to further the Kingdom of God

Jesus came as the Father’s representative, to carry out the Father’s mission of redemption, in order to establish a Kingdom. Have you ever noticed how much Jesus talked about the Kingdom of God? He saved us so we could be a part of His Kingdom. Jesus came to reveal the truth of God’s Kingdom to the world.

9. Luke 4:43 – Jesus came to preach about the Kingdom of God. From town to town He declared the rule and reign of God.

10. John 18:37 – Jesus came to be a King and to bring truth. Jesus victoriously rules and reigns today!

11. Matthew 20:28 – Jesus came “to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” He set the example for the citizens of God’s Kingdom.

12. Luke 12:51 – Jesus came to “bring division.” His offer of salvation requires a decision. Those who receive Him enter His Kingdom. Those that reject Him do not. (Find out now how to have a relationship with Jesus.)

If you are like me, when I celebrate Christmas I tend to limit my view of Jesus to a baby in a feed trough filled with hay. Yes, that’s how He arrived, but that is not why He came. As you celebrate Christmas this year, don’t leave Jesus in the manger. Remember, He came as the Father’s representative to provide a way for your salvation and establish God’s Kingdom on earth. Rejoice with exceeding great joy!

Merry Christmas!

Kathy

 

 

Worshipping Jesus – It’s Your Turn

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I absolutely LOVE studying Scripture! There’s nothing like opening the Bible and getting to know the Living God more – getting together with God’s girls and exploring the wonder of the Word!

Sweet sisters, I hope you’ve been as excited as we have this past week! It’s been chock-full off foundational truths and fundamental Christian beliefs. Kristi Stephens explained why the manager was essential to mankind’s salvations. Kathy Howard examined the incarnation and helped us understand the significance of the truth that the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. And yesterday, Sandra Peoples explored the magnitude of the virgin birth.

During this season of twinkling lights, gingerbread houses and glittery gifts, Jesus emerges as the center of it all – the undeniable King of the universe. There is nothing that can compare to the majesty of who He is!

May this be a season of worship for you as you join the Scripture Dig team in our quest to know Him more and make Him the passionate pursuit of our lives – the unparalleled longing of our hearts.

“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Timothy 1:17

IT’S YOUR TURN NOW, SWEET FRIEND!

Let your adoration for the Living God overflow into words of encouragement for others to read. Share your praise for the Savior of the world – born of a virgin – the God/man – the One who graced planet earth with His presence and secured salvation by giving Himself for us all. Share what Christ means to you and how He is working in your midst.

I can’t wait to read what God is doing in your life!


The Virgin Birth

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The virgin birth. It’s not really a hotly debated topic in Christian circles. We learn it, we accept it, we almost forget about it. But each Christmas, we’re reminded that Jesus was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, not by the seed of a man.

Even though Christians accept this as truth, the world does not. It’s often debated this time of year. Magazines Newsweek and Time have run articles in the last decade claiming the virgin birth is a myth, and even quoted “Christians” who say it’s a myth, or that it’s not necessary to believe in the virgin birth to be a Christian.

So why is it important to believe that Jesus was born of a virgin? What is the implication for us today?

Before our conception we did not exist. But Jesus existed before Mary was with child. Galatians 4:4 says, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son…” God didn’t create His Son, He sent Him forth. The virgin birth was prophesied in Isaiah 7:14, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”  This prophecy was fulfilled when the angel told Mary she would give birth to Jesus and she answered, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” (Luke 1:34).

Romans 5:12 says that through one man sin entered the world and through him, sin spread to all men, because all sinned. But Jesus was born without sin. He lived a sinless life. Paul goes on to write in Romans, “…through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life (5:18).

The world doesn’t want to believe in the miraculous conception of Jesus because then they want to deny every miraculous detail of His life. Pastor John MacArthur writes,  “[A}ny rejection of Christ’s supernatural origin leaves His supernatural life and His supernatural death and His supernatural resurrection inexplicable. You gotta have it all, or any of it to make sense. And if Jesus wasn’t virgin born, then the claim that He can save is highly questionable.”

Remember this Christmas not to just read over the fact that Mary was a virgin when she conceived Jesus. She gives all praise to God for the gift of Christ, and we can as well when we pray with Mary, “For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name” (Luke 1:49). His name is holy because Christ is without sin–at birth, in life, and when He conquered death!

image source: ArtBible

God or man? Yes!

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The first couple of chapters of Luke and Matthew get worn out this time of year. That’s where we normally go to read about the birth of Jesus. However, the Christmas story found in the first chapter of John richly presents another aspect of our Savior’s earthly arrival.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.

He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.

The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

John 1:1-4, 10, 12, 14 NIV

“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” Ah, so much truth, so much hope, found in one statement. Jesus, who John meaningful calls the “Word,” left the glory of heaven and became human in order to walk the earth with mankind. To “tabernacle” or dwell with us. The Word – who was Himself God – became man. John 1:14 poetically describes what we refer to as the “Incarnation.”

The term “Incarnation” refers to the foundational Christian belief that God became man in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. Passage after passage in the Bible clearly presents Jesus as both fully divine and fully human. Two natures united together in one person.

Although hard to grasp, this concept is absolutely vital to our faith. That is why the early church worked so hard to battle against heretics and false teachers who wanted to twist the correct understanding of the Incarnation. After centuries of fighting those who would introduce incorrect doctrine, the church settled the matter once and for all at the Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD. The following is an excerpt from their lengthy treatise on the nature of Christ.

At once complete in Godhead and complete in manhood, truly God and truly man… recognized in two natures, without confusion, without change, without division, without separation; the distinction of natures being in no way annulled by the union, but rather the characteristics of each nature being preserved and coming together to form one person and subsistence, not as parted or separated into two persons, but one and the same Son and Only-begotten God the Word, Lord Jesus Christ;

Why is the Incarnation – the truth that Jesus was both God and man – so vital to our faith? Here are a few things to consider:

  • Without it we would still be lost, spiritually dead. Only God Himself can forgive our sins. Only the sinless God-man could offer His life as the once-for-all perfect sacrifice needed to make atonement for our sins. No incarnation, no salvation. (John 1:12, Heb 9:11-28)
  • We have a High Priest who understands both our temptations and our sufferings. Because Jesus experienced both He knows exactly what we are going through and how to help us (Hebrews 5:14-15).
  • Our earthly Savior is both God and King! Jesus is the eternal God, the Creator of all there is (John 1:1-3). He is worthy of our praise and worship.
  • Jesus Christ is the true revelation of the Father to us. If we know Jesus, then we know the Father (John 14:9).

This Christmas don’t simply celebrate the birth of a wee babe in the manger. Celebrate the incarnation of Jesus Christ. God became flesh and dwelled among men so He could bring salvation to all who would receive Him! Hallelujah and amen!

How does the truth that Jesus is both fully human and fully God impact you and your faith? Share your thoughts with us.

If you have never received Jesus as your Savior, don’t let another Christmas go by without making that eternally important decision. Find out now how you can become a Christian. If you want to learn more about your need for a Savior check out Kathy’s book “God’s Truth Revealed.”

God’s unchanging plans… and unexpected ways (cont.)

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Yesterday we began to explore the question of why the manger? We began back in Genesis 3, so take a quick look at that post if you missed it!

The Passover was just the beginning of the lessons God had in store for the descendants of Abraham. As God brought them out of Egypt, He formed them into a nation with a “constitution” unique to them – laws and regulations for how to live as a unique theocracy where their holy God was their King and actually lived among them. The law constantly pointed out to the people that they were in the presence of a holy God – and they were inherently unclean because of sin and the broken state of this world.

They could not approach their holy God; even though He lived among them in a carefully planned Tabernacle, no one could approach Him, no one could pull back the rich tapestries of curtains and march into His awesome presence without it costing their very lives. No matter how hard they tried, they could not make themselves holy enough to regain the communion that was lost back in the Garden. They could not keep themselves clean. They could not sacrifice away their sin and the evil that lurked in their hearts.

As Israel became established in the land God had promised them and eventually demanded to have a human king to rule over them, it quickly became clear that no mere human king could save them. Every human leader failed, in small ways and often very dramatic ways – every human leader was flawed and sinful. No king could lead them to victory over their own sin; no king could provide them freedom from oppression and the brokenness of the human condition, let alone crush the serpent and reclaim what had been lost in the Garden.

They needed a better sacrifice – a Sacrifice much greater, much more costly, than any animal from their flock. They needed a better Priest who did not have to atone for his own sins before offering atonement for theirs. They needed a better King who could reign righteously without end and conquer the invisible enemies as well as the visible.

There was only one solution: God the Son Himself would come. He would dwell among us, not removed and separated from us, but as one of us. He would humble Himself, wrap Himself in flesh, walk with us, suffer among us, touch us, heal us, and ultimately die in our place as the one perfect Passover Lamb. Starting with the manger, God would fulfill centuries of promises – promises to Adam, Abraham, David; promises given through prophets, events hinted at throughout Israel’s history.

By becoming small, He would reclaim everything that was lost. By coming quietly to the outcasts He would change the course of history. He would come first as a suffering servant, and someday He would return as the conquering King of kings.

God’s great plan began to unfold in Bethlehem that night in the unlikeliest of ways, the most unexpected of places… and all heaven rejoiced at the sight of it.

Related reading:

God’s Big Story – a summary of God’s plan from Genesis to Revelation

The Word Became Flesh

Yahweh Has Come to Dwell Among Us (parts one, two, and three)

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