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Christmas IS About Family??? Pt. 3 Bible Ballistics: Vol. 14 No. 17

08 Sunday Dec 2019

Posted by Blanche in 'Tis The Season?, A Father's Love, Abiding In Jesus, Abundant Life In Jesus, Born Again, Choices And Consequences, Christmas IS?, Consider Your ways, Encouragement, Every Knee Shall Bow, Follow Jesus, Gospel, Grace, He's Alive, IN Jesus!, It's Your Choice, JESUS, Jesus SinLESS Son of God, Joy To The World?, Just Jesus!, Overcoming By His Blood, Rejoice IN The Lord, Salvation, SIN, The Only Way, The Word, Trusting Jesus, Welcome Home, When Will You Bow?

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1 Corinthians 15:22-26, Christmans IS, Hebrews 12:1-2, Hebrews 13:8, Isaiah 42:8, JESUS, Jesus Saves!, John 10:30, John 19:30, John 1:29, Matthew 1:21-23, Philippians 2:8-11, Revelation 1:4-15, Revelation 20:11-15, Revelation 2`1:1-5, Romans 6:23, Salvation

Bible Ballistics: Vol. 14 No. 17 Christmas IS About Family??? Pt.3

 

We talked last time about the first family and how our sin was the reason that Jesus came!  We also talked about the truth that Jesus as The Redeemer was God’s plan for our redemption “foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you”! (See 1 Peter 1:20). Jesus was, is and ever will be “the way….the truth….and the life..” that leads us “unto the Father”!  One plan, provided in the mind of God “before the foundation of the world”!  It is so important that we sink our anchor into this truth, as we continue in the last part of this series; focusing on this One who came that we might celebrate not only Christmas, but every day of the year! For He came that mankind “might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”!  I pray that you are as aware and grateful for that wonder as I am!

Yet Jesus is so much more than a “baby in a manger”!  He is ever God, and in the incarnation, He became the God-Man/Savior by His sacrifice for our sin; so, let’s spend this time together rehearsing the beauty, nature and character of our Lord and King—the Messiah of the world—Jesus Christ The Lord!

“Jesus Christ the same

yesterday,

and to day,

and for ever.”  Hebrews 13:8   Amen

We talked last time about the first family, their sin, and the first promise of the coming Messiah who would redeem mankind—all who would come to Him in repentance and faith.  The promise John spoke of:

“Behold the Lamb of God,

which taketh away

the sin of the world.”  John 1:29b

This same Jesus—who IS “the same”– identified Himself to the Apostle John in the book of the Revelation amazingly.

“John to the seven churches which are in Asia:

Grace be unto you,

and peace,

from him which is,

and which was,

and which is to come;

and from the seven Spirits

which are before his throne;

5 And from Jesus Christ,

who is the faithful witness,

and the first begotten of the dead,

and the prince of the kings of the earth.

Unto him that loved us,

and washed us from our sins

in his own blood,

6 And hath made us kings and priests

unto God and his Father;

to him be glory and dominion

for ever and ever. Amen…

…10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day,

and heard behind me a great voice,

as of a trumpet, 11 Saying,

I am Alpha and Omega,

the first and the last:

 and, What thou seest,

write in a book,

and send it unto the

seven churches

which are in Asia;

unto Ephesus,

and unto Smyrna,

and unto Pergamos,

and unto Thyatira,

and unto Sardis,

and unto Philadelphia,

and unto Laodicea.

12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. 

And being turned,

I saw seven golden candlesticks;

13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks

one like unto the Son of man,

clothed with a garment

down to the foot,

and girt about the paps

with a golden girdle.

14 His head and his hairs

were white like wool,

as white as snow;

and his eyes

were as a flame of fire;

15 And his feet

like unto fine brass,

as if they burned

in a furnace;

and his voice

as the sound of many waters.”               Portions of Revelation 1:4-15

In verse 6 we see that Jesus ascribed to Himself glory and dominion—that is significant!  Jesus reiterated His deity, just as He did in the Gospel of John.

“I and my Father are one.”   John 10:30

This declaration along with what Jesus says to John here in chapter 1 of The Revelation, requires that Jesus IS God—not God The Father, but God The Son—that “Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world”; who along with The Holy Spirit comprise the three persons of the trinity.  But God revealed long before what would confirm the deity of Jesus:

“I am the LORD:

that is my name:

and my glory will I not give

to another,

neither my praise

to graven images.”  Isaiah 42:8

And God didn’t give “His” glory to ‘another’, He gave it to “His only begotten son”—that Lamb who came as “God with us” to save us “from our sin”!  We could spend the rest of the year rehearsing the names of Jesus, but we’ll just take our time today and consider what He has told us about Himself!

HE IS:

 Jesus Christ—

 The faithful witness—

 –from GOD–

 –to us—

 The First Begotten from the dead—

  –He Arose—

  –He’s not dead—HE IS ALIVE-

   (No longer a babe but The Risen Redeemer!)

 The Price of the kings of the earth—

  The One who loved us and washed us from our sin—

  –IN HIS own blood—

  –To make us kings and priests unto our God—

  The ONE WAY who is worthy of glory and dominion– FOREVER!

And just as important as these titles is how He revealed Himself to John—the power of His very person:

HE HAS:

Hair like wool, like pure white snow—

He is the sinless Son of God—

 Eyes like fire—

He is the One who sees all of our being—

Feet like brass–

 The day of HIS judgment is coming—

Because God has made Him Lord and Judge—

“For the Father judgeth no man, but

hath committed all judgment unto the Son:”  John 5:22

His voice as the sound of many waters—

 You can avoid listening to Him—

 But you will bow before Him!

The question isn’t will you bow?  But when will you bow?  You can bow before Him now as Lord and Savior, or you will bow before Him as Judge—a judge where there is only one standard, JESUS!

“And I saw a great white throne,

and him that sat on it,

from whose face the earth

and the heaven

fled away;

and there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead,

small and great,

stand before God;

and the books were opened:

and another book was opened,

which is the book of life:

and the dead were judged out of those things

which were written in the books,

according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead

which were in it;

and death and hell delivered up the dead

which were in them:

and they were judged every man

according to their works.

14 And death and hell

were cast into the lake of fire.

This is the second death.

15 And whosoever was not found

written in the book of life

was cast into the lake of fire.”   Revelation 20:11-15

Jesus can be your salvation, hope and life, or He will be your judge.  It’s your choice as to when you will bow, but you will bow!  Choose wisely, there will be a test, and the consequences will be true and righteous according to God’s Word and YOUR choices!

“And being found in fashion as a man,

he humbled himself,

and became obedient unto death,

even the death of the cross.

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him,

and given him a name

which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus

every knee should bow,

of things in heaven,

and things in earth,

and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory

of God the Father.”  Philippians 2:8-11

Praise God we can bow before the Lord Jesus Christ and become children of God, and all the work has been done for those who will repent and believe in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin—my sin and your sin!

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about

with so great a cloud of witnesses,

let us lay aside

every weight,

and the sin

which doth so easily beset us,

and let us run

with patience

the race

that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus

the author

and finisher

of our faith;

who for the joy

that was set before him

endured the cross,

despising the shame,

and is set down

at the right hand

of the throne of God.”  Hebrews 12:1-2

Jesus is creator of all and yet He loves us so much that He came to be my sacrifice and yours—for all who will come unto Him.  He is the Alpha and Omega—the beginning and the end—the “author and finisher of our faith”!  Are you counting on knowing about Him, knowing about His Word, or are you counting on knowing the Author of all things, including our salvation?  Will you come to Him and know the real “joy” of Christmas—JESUS?

“And she shall bring forth a son,

and thou shalt call his name JESUS:

for he shall save his people

from their sins.

22 Now all this was done,

that it might be fulfilled

which was spoken of the Lord

by the prophet, saying,

23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child,

and shall bring forth a son,

and they shall call his name Emmanuel,

which being interpreted is,

God with us.”  Matthew 1:21-23

This Son would pay the price for my/your sin, crying from the cross that HE was paying the price required for sin.

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar,

he said, It is finished:

and he bowed his head,

and gave up the ghost.”  John 19:30

“For the wages of sin

is death;

but the gift of God

is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Romans 6:23

And there is another time coming when He will call something else “done”, finished—the time when He will complete His work, and He will return as King of Kings not as a babe in the manger; when He will come and take His throne and finally complete the defeat of sin, death and hell!

“For as in Adam all die,

even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

23 But every man in his own order:

Christ the firstfruits;

afterward they that are Christ’s

at his coming.

24 Then cometh the end,

when he shall have delivered up the kingdom

to God, even the Father;

when he shall have put down all rule

and all authority

and power.

25 For he must reign,

till he hath put all enemies

under his feet.

26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed

is death.”  1 Corinthians 15:22-26

And after ‘these things’ there will be a new world where we will be with our God and He will dwell with us!

“And I saw a new heaven

and a new earth:

for the first heaven and the first earth

were passed away;

and there was no more sea…

…. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said,

Behold, I make all things new.

And he said unto me,

Write: for these words are true and faithful.”                              Portions of Revelation 21:1-5

Jesus fulfilled all the prophecies of His first coming and just as surely, HE will fulfill those about His second coming!  Are you ready? Are you in the family of God?  Do you know the Christ of Christmas?  I pray that you do, and if so, that you will remember that He came to save us and give us entrance into HIS kingdom!  Rejoice and be glad!!!  It is all about the “family” of God.  If you don’t know Him, He wants to give you life!  Won’t you listen for His voice and respond in repentance and faith to His sacrifice for You.  The angels will rejoice, and you’ll have the best Christmas ever.

“I say unto you,

that likewise joy shall be in heaven

over one sinner that repenteth,

more than over ninety and nine just persons,

which need no repentance.”  Luke 15:7

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock:

if any man hear my voice,

and open the door,

I will come in to him,

and will sup with him,

and he with me.”    See Rev. 3:20

Amen and Amen!!!

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Christmas IS About Family??? Pt. 1 Bible Ballistics: BBs #607

04 Wednesday Dec 2019

Posted by Blanche in 'Tis The Season?, A Father's Love, Abundant Life In Jesus, Christmas IS?, Come To Worship HIM, Family, It's Your Choice, Jesus Is Alive, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Joy To The World?, Salvation, SIN

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Christmas Gift!, Christmas IS?, Family, Family IS Christmas!, Jesus Is Alive, John 1:10-14, John 3:3-7, Matthew 1:21, Salvation In Jesus

Bible Ballistics: BBs #607  Christmas IS About Family??? Pt.1

 

As we talked last time about the truth that Christmas is about Jesus’ gift to the world of Himself to be our substitutionary, atoning, sacrifice for sin to all who come to Him in repentance and faith, I want to spend some time this month talking about Jesus, Christmas, and family and how they are intertwined.

When we come to Jesus, we become part of the family of God—we are ‘born again’ into the Kingdom of God!

“He was in the world,

and the world was made by him,

and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own,

and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.

14 And the Word was made flesh,

and dwelt among us,

(and we beheld his glory,

the glory as of the only begotten

of the Father,)

full of grace and truth.”   John 1:10-14

Jesus came into the world for you and me—that we might have “life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (See John 10:10)—that we might truly know what “life” is all about, from the God who created us, and bought us back to Himself with the blood of Jesus!  It’s what Jesus talked to Nicodemus about; this religious leader who wanted to know what Jesus was all about, yet came to Him at night, whether to be unseen of others, or whatever reason he had—he came.  What about you?  Have you come to Jesus?  He came—was born in a manger, lived a sinless life, died in my/your place, rose victorious on the third day that we might become a part of HIS family—to “become the sons of God”—sons and daughters of The Father!  Amen!

“Jesus answered and said unto him,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born again,

he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him,

How can a man be born when he is old?

can he enter the second time

into his mother’s womb,

and be born?

5 Jesus answered,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born of water

and of the Spirit,

he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh

is flesh;

and that which is born of the Spirit

is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee,

Ye must be born again.”  John 3:3-7

So, for our first look at family, we can choose to hear the message of Jesus, and become His children—we can know The Father—to be “born of the Spirit”!  I pray that you will rejoice in the beauty of the gift that God has given to the world as you see all of the Christmas beauty around us!!!

“….and thou shalt call his name JESUS:

for he shall save his people from their sins.”  Matthew 1:21b

Amen!

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Jeremiah Wasn’t A Bullfrog!!! Bible Ballistics: BBs #423

29 Friday Dec 2017

Posted by Blanche in Abundant Life In Jesus, Choose You This Day!, Compassion, Confidence, Jeremiah Wasn't A Bullfrog !, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Joy To The World?, No Sin No Need?, Perseverance, SIN, The Only Way, The Word

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #423  Jeremiah Wasn’t A Bullfrog!!!

 

I know my schedule has been off lately, but with technical issues and personal issues, it’s been a bit of a challenge to stay on track recently; but hopefully, we have all the techno things taken care of, and the other issues are getting better. So I just wanted to share a thought with you this morning, and while it may seem a little strange, it really reflects how I am feeling going into the New Year.\

While Jeremiah wasn’t a ‘bullfrog’, he was a great, faithful prophet of God—in fact he is called the weeping prophet because he ministered to the people of Judah for some forty years, with little visible response, because the people of his day thought that they were all “OK”! And I believe that is where we here in the U.S. are, in that same place; and I often relate to Jeremiah and his broken heart for the people that he ministered to. May I ever be as faithful to my calling as Jeremiah was to his, and the passage that I would like to share with you today epitomizes that sense of grief and sorrow that he felt (and I do also) over those around us!

“The harvest is past,

the summer is ended,

and we are not saved.

21 For the hurt of the daughter of my people

am I hurt;

I am black;

astonishment hath taken hold on me.

22 Is there no balm in Gilead;

is there no physician there?

why then is not the health

of the daughter of my people

recovered?”   Jeremiah 8:20-22

Jeremiah asked the rhetorical question that many who follow Jesus are asking today, including me, “why then is not …. my people recovered”? Why isn’t America saved? Why isn’t the world saved? Why is there a “cure” for sin, but most refuse to acknowledge the ‘cure’? Because most are denying the diagnosis—SIN!

And if there is no sin, then there is no need for a redeemer. Jesus Himself, told us that He wouldn’t be popular, and most would reject Him! Even those around Him couldn’t see who He was, because of SIN!

“Enter ye in at the strait gate:

for wide is the gate,

and broad is the way,

that leadeth to destruction,

and many there be

which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate,

and narrow is the way,

which leadeth unto life,

and few there be that find it.”     Matthew 7:13-14

Jesus told us that the “many” would take the popular “broad” way, and only a “few” would take His narrow way—the way of the cross. Why? Jesus gave Nicodemus the answer to that question:

“He that believeth on him

is not condemned:

but he that believeth not

is condemned already,

because he hath not believed

in the name of the only begotten

Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation,

that light is come into the world,

and men loved darkness

rather than light,

because their deeds were evil.

20 For every one that doeth evil

hateth the light,

neither cometh to the light,

lest his deeds should be reproved.”     John 3:18-20

We can choose to trust in Jesus and His substitutionary, atoning, sacrifice for our sin, or we can cling to our sin and take the “broad” way to destruction. You can choose to run with the “bullfrog” named Jeremiah, or you can come to Jesus and receive a “Jeremiah” heart that God can use to reach others. And remember that many whom God calls, He sends out to meet the world with tears of genuine compassion and love. But remember, God’s ways aren’t our ways. Which road will you choose? Who will you follow? May we ever join the Psalmist in understanding that the harvest is worth the planting? Or as I’ve been known to say, ‘The blooms are worth the wait!”

“The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. 4 Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.

5 They that sow in tears

shall reap in joy.

6 He that goeth forth and weepeth,

bearing precious seed,

shall doubtless come again

with rejoicing,

bringing his sheaves with him.”    Psalm 126:3-6

Amen and Amen!!!

 

 

 

 

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Are We Knowing Or Going??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #421

22 Friday Dec 2017

Posted by Blanche in 'Tis The Season?, Choose You This Day!, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Joy To The World?, Knowing Or Going?, Salvation, The Only Way, The Word, Worship Him!

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #421 Are We Knowing Or Going???

 

As we approach Christmas Day, I want us to consider an unusual twist on a familiar part of the story of the incarnation and birth of Jesus. The most important part of the truth of Christmas isn’t in the celebrating, or the frou-frou, or even the food and fellowship that we enjoy during our celebrations, but the most important thing is what each person chooses do with Jesus?

Let’s consider two groups of people in this account; one group knew the facts yet had no interest in pursuing them or finding the ‘Newborn King’, the other group followed a star in faith, believing that it would lead them to The King—and they found HIM!

“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying,

Where is he that is born King of the Jews?

for we have seen his star in the east,

and are come to worship him.

3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him….he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes ….he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5 And they said unto him,

In Bethlehem of Judaea:

for thus it is written by the prophet,….

7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, …… he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

9 When they had heard the king,

they departed;

and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east,

went before them,

till it came and stood over

where the young child was.

10 When they saw the star,

they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

11 And when they were come into the house,

they saw the young child with Mary his mother,

and fell down,

and worshipped him:

and when they had opened their treasures,

they presented unto him gifts;

gold,

and frankincense,

and myrrh.”     Portions of Matthew 2:1-11

When the ‘wise men’ found Him, they worshipped Him and gave Him gifts, expressing their own personal faith in, and love for Jesus and what He had come to bring—salvation to all who would believe. Yet those who knew the facts sat unaffected in Jerusalem, without any interest in going the short six miles, or so, to Bethlehem to see this long-promised Messiah and Savior! These strangers from the east came looking for the Messiah; they were “going without knowing”, much like Abraham. Yet when they came to those who did ‘know the place’, and found out where to go, they continued their quest, while those in the ‘know, didn’t go’! These religious leaders had no interest in finding Israel’s long-promised Messiah! That is amazing to me, yet not so much, for many today respond to Jesus in the same way; they know the facts about Jesus, but have no desire to know HIM personally. What about you?

What have you done with the King? Have you heard all about Him, but have no interest in bowing before Him, or worshipping Him, or loving Him? Or are have you chosen to seek and follow Him in faith and to worship Him in devotion, and obedience out of love and gratitude for the gift of His life given on the cross for our salvation? He knew He was born to die.

I pray that we will all be like the ‘wise men’ and seek the Savior Jesus Christ every day, being a reflection of HIS glory to a world in desperate need of a Savior!!! The choice is yours, but remember there’s a test at the end! May you truly know Him in fullness and truth, and rejoice in this season of celebrating His coming into our world to save and deliver us from our sin.

“And she shall bring forth a son,

and thou shalt call his name JESUS:

for he shall save his people

from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

“And the Word was made flesh,

and dwelt among us,

(and we beheld his glory,

the glory as of the only begotten

of the Father,)

full of grace and truth.”     John 1:14

Amen and Amen!!!

Merry Christmas to you and yours!!!

HE truly IS “Joy To The World”!!!

**And just a ‘heads up’, our Sunday post will feature a guest writer, and I know you’re going to be blessed by what she has to share.**

 

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Joy To The _____??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 10 No. 21

18 Monday Dec 2017

Posted by Blanche in 'Tis The Season?, Abundant Life In Jesus, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Joy To The World?, Salvation, Sharing Our Faith!, The Only Way, The Word, The Word Or The World?

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 10 No.21 Joy To The ______???

 

One of my favorite Christmas Carols (Hymns and songs pertaining to Christmas) is “Joy To The World” (written by Isaac Watts, a prolific hymn writer who wrote the Carol based on Psalm 98, 96:11-12, and Genesis 3:17-18). Yet I often wonder why so many are less than ‘joyful’, even those who claim to know Jesus and celebrate His birth? Isaac Watts understood that the “joy” must come from knowing Jesus and His Father, God Almighty, and having the assurance that God has provided a way for the salvation of mankind from our sin! Salvation was, is and ever shall be God’s idea; it is God’s perfect provision and God’s desire for all men, women, boys and girls. And that, my friends, is cause for ‘joy’! God’s wants all men to come to Him through His Son, to be born again of the “Spirit of God” and know His love, forgiveness, and receive eternal life through the blood of Jesus. That truly is the “Joy To The World”!

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise,

as some men count slackness;

but is longsuffering to us-ward,

not willing that any should perish,

but that all should come to repentance.”   2 Peter 3:9

What joy it ought to stir in our hearts to know and remember that God loves us—loved us first, in fact.

“We love him, because he first loved us.”    1 John 4:19

God loves us and has provided a way for us to know Him and have new life in Jesus Christ, His Son! But without HIM there is no joy! So I’d simply like to spend a few minutes today considering Jesus and what our salvation cost HIM! After all, it’s all about Jesus, right? Or have you and I become so busy that we are consumed with the hustle and bustle that often overtakes the celebration of Jesus, and we fall into the trap of ‘busy-ness’ rather than the “business” of spreading the Good News—that “Joy To The World” is what Jesus came to accomplish!!! And it cost Him His life on the cross of Calvary!!! But praise God He not only died for our sin, but He arose to grant to all who will believe in HIM, forgiveness of sin and eternal victory over sin, death and hell!!! And that, my dear friends, is certainly reason enough to share this “Joy To The World” at every opportunity!

The author of the book of Hebrews shares great insight into the reasons for Jesus’ coming—what we celebrate at Christmas time—the incarnation of God into human flesh and blood. But why? Because only a perfect sacrifice from a perfect man could be the perfect payment for SIN! And sin, my friends, is the issue, even as the angel told Joseph when he was concerned about Mary being pregnant with a child that he knew wasn’t his.

“Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying,

Joseph, thou son of David,

fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife:

for that which is conceived in her

is of the Holy Ghost.

21 And she shall bring forth a son,

and thou shalt call his name JESUS:

for he shall save his people

from their sins.

22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child,

and shall bring forth a son,

and they shall call his name Emmanuel,

which being interpreted is,

God with us.”   Matthew 1:19-23

God revealed to Joseph that the child Mary was carrying was the promised Messiah—that he would “save his people from their sins”, and the only reason that He could do that was because He was, is and ever shall be “Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us”! Jesus was the promised One, the One who would save us from our sins—and only God in the flesh could do that—“Emmanuel…. God with us”! Amen and Amen! I’m so glad that God loved me enough to lay aside the glory of heaven, come and dwell in a woman’s womb for nine months, experience human birth, spend years growing in a body of flesh—He who was, is and ever shall be, GOD! All for you and me! That’s what we see in Hebrews chapter 2, let’s look.

“Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.

9 But we see Jesus,

who was made a little lower than the angels

for the suffering of death,

crowned with glory and honour;

that he by the grace of God

should taste death

for every man.

10 For it became him,

for whom are all things,

and by whom are all things,

in bringing many sons unto glory,

to make the captain of their salvation perfect

through sufferings.

11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. 13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

14 Forasmuch then as the children

are partakers of flesh and blood,

he also himself likewise

took part of the same;

that through death

he might destroy him

that had the power of death,

that is, the devil;

15 And deliver them

who through fear of death

were all their lifetime

subject to bondage.

16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels;

but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him

to be made like unto his brethren,

that he might be a merciful

and faithful high priest

in things pertaining to God,

to make reconciliation

for the sins of the people.

18 For in that he himself hath suffered

being tempted,

he is able to succour them

that are tempted.”   Hebrews 2:8-18

Do you realize that Jesus birth is the epitome of God’s love—giving His Son, the God-Man to live life in a body of flesh that He could not only pay for our sin, but comfort and restore us when we are tempted and fail!!! Even more than that, He can provide us the strength and courage to resist temptation and overcome sin day by day, when we come to His throne for help!

“For we have not an high priest

which cannot be touched

with the feeling of our infirmities;

but was in all points tempted

like as we are,

yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly

unto the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy,

and find grace to help

in time of need.”    Hebrews 4:15-16

That, my friend is the reason that we can truly sing “Joy To The World”—and you and I are part of the ‘world’ that Jesus came to save. He was born KING, is coming again—as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords–and He won’t come again to a manger, but to a throne. But praise God He did come as the suffering servant to pay for my sin and yours! He is worthy of our worship. Who or what are you worshipping this Christmas season? Does Jesus or the hustle and bustle of the world hold your heart? The “wise men” showed us what we ought to do.

“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying,

Where is he

that is born King of the Jews?

for we have seen his star

in the east,

and are come to worship him.”    Matthew 2:1-2

They saw a star and came to worship the newborn KING. What are we worshipping today, every day—Jesus or something much less worthy? He is the Savior, yes; but He is Savior because HE IS GOD!!!

“Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and

hath translated us into the kingdom

of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

even the forgiveness of sins:

15 Who is the image of the invisible God,

the firstborn of every creature:

16 For by him were all things created,

that are in heaven,

and that are in earth,

visible and invisible,

whether they be thrones,

or dominions,

or principalities,

or powers:

all things were created by him,

and for him:

17 And he is before all things,

and by him all things consist.

18 And he is the head of the body,

the church:

who is the beginning,

the firstborn from the dead;

that in all things he might have the preeminence.” Colossians 1:12-17

Jesus is the creator of the universe! He IS God, God who came to save us, giving His life for ours—for all who will believe and come to Him as the Only Lamb of God, who “takes away the sin of the world”!

So my question for you today is, “Do you have the “Joy” that Jesus gives to those who come to HIM? Or are you painting on a face for the world, trying to cover a broken and empty life inside?” Jesus came that you might have real life, abundant life; won’t you come to Him today? What better time to come to the Savior than at a time when we celebrate His birth, His incarnation (never His coming into existence, but His coming down from heaven to be our Redeemer)! If you know Him, won’t you join me in re-committing to being a reflection of that “Joy To The World” that Isaac Watts wrote about so long ago—HE truly is the Only hope of joy for this lost and dying world, and it’s our job to spread the “Good News”, that Jesus Christ has come to save sinners, “of whom I am chief” (which I say along with Paul!)! Blessing on your week, friends—and remember Jesus came because HE loves YOU!!!

“I am the door:

by me if any man enter in,

he shall be saved,

and shall go in and out,

and find pasture.

10 The thief cometh not,

but for to steal,

and to kill,

and to destroy:

I am come that they might have life,

and that they might have it more abundantly.

11 I am the good shepherd:

the good shepherd giveth his life

for the sheep.” John 10:9-11

He did it all for you and me, and that IS cause to celebrate!! Merry Christmas!!!

 

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