Tag Archives: A baby born to die for us?

Christmas Fortnight Day 7 A Word from THE WORD! #419

18 Thursday Dec 2025

Posted by in 'Tis The Season?, Christ IN YOU, Christ IS Alive!, Christmas, Christmas IS Jesus, Christmas IS?, Christmas Ponderings, His Mercies Are New Every Morning, Holiness, Holy, Holy Living, HOPE, Jesus IN You!, Jesus IS Lord--bow before Him!, Jesus is our peace, Jesus IS The Gift!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Knows YOUR Storm, Jesus lives today!, Jesus Never Fails, Jesus Saves!

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Christmas Fortnight Day 7  A Word from THE WORD! #419

As we continue looking at Jesus and His birth, let’s think about the ‘manger’.  A cattle trough, a feeding container for cattle, horses and other livestock.  What is the import of the “manger”?

Luke speaks of the manger 3 times. Why 3 times? Let’s look.

“And she brought forth her firstborn son,

and wrapped him in swaddling clothes,

and laid him in a manger;

because there was no room

for them

in the inn.”  Luke 2:7

Luke goes on with even more insight for us, as he recounts the testimony of the shepherds.

 “And this shall be a sign unto you;

Ye shall find the babe

wrapped in swaddling clothes,

lying in a manger.”  Luke 2:12

“And they came with haste,

and found Mary, and Joseph,

and the babe

lying in a manger.” Luke 2:16

First, we see that Mary, “laid him in a manger”.  This precious young mother, chosen by God, had nowhere to lay her newborn baby but in a trough.  Her humility and faithfulness are overwhelming to me.  Nothing is recorded of Mary complaining, whining or being dissatisfied with her lot.

Philippians 2 says that Jesus also chose to humble himself, how about you and me?

“And being found in fashion as a man,

he humbled himself, and

became obedient unto death,

even the death of the cross.”  Philippians 2:8

This King of kings accepted a manger for HIS bed.  What about us—what are we unwilling to accept from God’s hand?

Then we see the angels, giving the shepherds instructions to look for a babe ‘lying in a manger’.  Christ’s first ‘cradle’ wasn’t a surprise to God.  He KNOWS where You are as well.

Lastly, we see that the shepherds found Him in that very ‘manger’.  They didn’t scoff at this strange tale, nor hesitate to obey.  How about you and me?  Do we respond to God in similar manner? Or do we hesitate at what may seem to us the “strange ways” of God?

Remember His ways aren’t our ways, nor are our ways His.  Thoughts to ponder in this Christmas season.  Think about ‘CHRIST’mas, and let’s make sure our focus is on Jesus The Christ, not just the trappings of this ‘holiday’ –let’s keep it a Holy Day!!!

Amen and Amen!!!

A Christmas Fortnight??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #296

10 Tuesday Dec 2024

Posted by in 'Come unto me, 'Tis The Season?, A Father's Love, All About Jesus!, Angelic visitations!, Christ IS Alive!, Christmas, Christmas IS Jesus, Christmas IS?, Christmas Ponderings, Joseph--see an angel!

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A Christmas Fortnight???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #296

Due to an injury to my finger, I’m not very able to type right now, so I will be sharing a series of Christmas Fortnight articles from the past.  I pray that they will be a blessing to you.

Bible Ballistics: BBs #117  A Christmas Fortnight-Angelic Messengers!!!

The birth of our Lord Jesus Christ was a supernatural event.  God stepped into time and became man.  Why would he do this?  Because HE loved us and as scripture reveals in Hebrews 2:14-18:

“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.”

He can comfort YOU!!!

He was born to die: to take on flesh and blood for you and me– to pay the debt of sin that we owe and give us eternal life through the cross.  HE WAS BORN TO DIE FOR ME!!!  And that’s cause to celebrate!  God made all this known to the parties involved through angelic messengers.  This God who hadn’t spoken openly for over 300 years, now stepped into time and humanity and announced this great event through His angelic messengers.  They were sent to three special, chosen, particular people who would play a part in God’s great unveiling.  Just regular, every day, godly servants of the Most High God—chosen to receive messages from God Himself.  Ponder on these things as we celebrate the birth of our Lord.

Luke 1:11-13, “And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord

standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

12 And when Zacharias saw him,

he was troubled,

and fear fell upon him.

13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias:

for thy prayer is heard;

and thy wife Elisabeth

shall bear thee a son,

and thou shalt call his name John.”

A birth announcement to an elderly father-to-be!!!  Amazing!

Luke 1:26-29, “And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel

was sent from God unto a city of Galilee,

named Nazareth,

27 To a virgin

espoused to a man whose name was Joseph,

of the house of David;

and the virgin’s name was Mary.

28 And the angel came in unto her, and said,

Hail, thou that art highly favoured,

the Lord is with thee:

blessed art thou among women.

29 And when she saw him,

she was troubled at his saying,

and cast in her mind

what manner of salutation this should be.”

A birth announcement to a young virgin girl engaged to be married.

Matthew 1:19-21, “Then Joseph her husband,

being a just man,

and not willing to make her a public 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.”

Confirmation to a righteous and gentle man in the midst of a dilemma, of God’s will for his life, Mary’s life and her child’s.

While we don’t generally see ‘angelic’ messengers, the same God who spoke then, speaks to hearts and lives today.  Whatever HE is speaking to your heart, won’t you listen?

Amen and Amen!!!

The Way To Celebrate??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #163

08 Friday Dec 2023

Posted by in 'Come unto me, 'Tis The Season?, A Father's Love, Before the foundation of the world, Behold the Lamb of God, Born Again, Bow Before our God, Choose you this day?, Choosing Jesus or The World?, Christ IN YOU, Christmas, Christmas IS Jesus, Christmas IS?, Follow Jesus, Follow The Star?, Following Jesus, Following Jesus or the World?, For Such A Time As This, Ready or NOT Here Jesus Comes!, Redeemed By HIS Blood, Redemption Through HIS Blood, Remember, Repentance, Running The Race!, Salvation, The Blood of Jesus Cleanses from SIN, The blood of Jesus IS the only Way, The Broad or Narrow Way?

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The Way To Celebrate??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #163

“Jesus saith unto him,

I am

the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.”  John 14:6

I know it’s not very popular today to stand by the truth that Jesus IS the only way to God—to heaven—to have eternal life!  It’s why Jesus came, and the story was ‘the story’ from “before the foundation of the world”!  The question is, “What will you do with this baby born in a barn, laid in a manger, the One who walked this earth with sinful men, yet remained sinless and walked to Calvary to pay for your sin and mine!”  What will you do with Him?  Leave Him in the manger?  Or bow before Him as your Lord and Savior?  It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test!

“Father, I will that they also,

whom thou hast given me,

be with me where I am;

that they may behold my glory,

which thou hast given me:

for thou lovedst me

before the foundation of the world.”   John 17:24

Angels proclaimed the truth to Zacharias, to Mary, to Joseph, to shepherds—the good news that The Savior has come.

“And, behold,

thou shalt conceive in thy womb,

and bring forth a son,

and shalt call his name JESUS.

 32 He shall be great,

and shall be called the Son of the Highest:

and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne

of his father David:

33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever;

and of his kingdom there shall be no end.”   Luke 1:31-33

“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 angel said unto them,

Fear not:

for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy,

which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day

in the city of David

a Saviour,

which is Christ the Lord.”  Luke 2:10-11

Great news for all people, yet Jesus reminded us that there is even a greater part of that good news—when we come to HIM for this salvation, HE will not only “save his people from their sins...” but even the angels rejoice at the redemption promised to Adam and Eve, and to us.  All because this tiny baby was headed to Calvary to pay for our sin and restore us to HIS kingdom.  All this planned before “the foundation of the world”!

God knew we would fail, yet He had already provided for our restoration and salvation from the promised penalty of sin—death—a Savior was on the way!

“Father, I will that they also,

whom thou hast given me,

be with me where I am;

that they may behold my glory,

which thou hast given me:

for thou lovedst me

before the foundation of the world.”   John 17:24

“Blessed be the God and Father

of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings

in heavenly places

in Christ:

4 According as he hath chosen us

in him

before the foundation of the world,

that we should be holy

and without blame

before him in love:” Ephesians 1:3-4

Peter also reminds us that our hope isn’t in a manger, or stars, or miraculous events, but in the blood of Jesus that “cleanseth us from all sin”!  It’s HIS way or no way!

“And if ye call on the Father,

who without respect of persons

judgeth according to every man’s work,

pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

18 Forasmuch as ye know

that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things,

as silver and gold,

from your vain conversation

received by tradition from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ,

as of a lamb without blemish

and without spot:

20 Who verily was foreordained

before the foundation of the world,

but was manifest in these last times for you,

21 Who by him do believe in God,

that raised him up from the dead,

and gave him glory;

that your faith and hope might be in God.” 1 Peter 1:17-21

So, I pray that you know HIM, and will “walk worthy” of His grace, His love, and the blood that HE spilled ‘on purpose’ for you and me.  I pray that you will truly remember to celebrate JESUS!  If angels rejoice, we have even more cause!

“Likewise, I say unto you,

there is joy in the presence of the angels of God

over one sinner that repenteth.” Luke15:10

While the angels do rejoice when a sinner repents, remember, Jesus warned us that repentance is necessary for all.  May we take heed to the truths of God’s Word and repent, receive and believe in the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice that the ‘babe in the manger’ came to be!  May you draw near to Jesus and celebrate His blessings of love, grace, and salvation!

“I tell you, Nay:

but, except ye repent,

ye shall all likewise perish.”  Luke 13:5

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples,

If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross,

and follow me.”  Matthew 16:24

May this lost world see us following JESUS!!!

Amen and Amen!!!