The Christmas Story
“Jesus, the Light of the World”
Isaiah 7:14-15 “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Curds and honey He shall eat, that He may know to refuse the evil and choose the good.” MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Before the Messiah came to earth, the period of time that was most looked forward to was the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. That was the turning point of the century you could say (if you get my meaning). That event gave the people hope who believed the prophesies of the One who was to come and save them from their sins. They didn't have to fear death anymore because a Saviour had come and would conquer death. The people believed it. They had faith that what the prophet's had declared from the Lord would come true. And did it? It sure did. Many thought He had come to bring peace while He later said Himself, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” If you read about His life in Matthew, Luke or John you will see that He was right.
Isaiah 11:1-6 There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. His delight is in the fear of the Lord, and He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, nor decide by the hearing for His ears; but with righteousness He shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, and faithfulness the belt of His waist.
Jesus was perfect. He was born that way and yet He still submitted and obeyed Mary and Joseph, His earthly parents, in all things. Whether we were adopted by our earthly parents or are their children by blood, Jesus' example shows us that in all things we need to respect and obey our parents. They are wiser than us. Jesus already knew what was right and wrong and was unable to do wickedness and yet He learned life skills and grew in wisdom by learning and honoring His earthly parents. We are sinners. God gives our parents wisdom to teach us in God's ways. If you do not have parents that teach you to discern between right and wrong and instill in you godly wisdom and wise tips on life, I encourage you to draw near to your heavenly Father and learn His ways by reading, studying and applying His holy Word to your life.
Micah 5:2-5 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.” Therefore He shall give them up, until the time that she who is in labor has given birth; then the remnant of His brethren shall return to the children of Israel. And He shall stand and feed His flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord His God; and they shall abide, for now He shall be great to the ends of the earth; and this One shall be peace.
Jesus brings peace in our hearts when we acknowledge Him as Lord and Saviour of our life. Those whose hearts God has softened are all around us. Every day we see them, but we don't specifically know them. “The harvest is truly plentiful, but the laborers are few.”
This Christmas season, let's ask God for grace to be willing to share the truth of Jesus' birth, life and resurrection to those around us.
MERRY CHRISTMAS! May God go with you.
