Unto You!

Isa 9:6

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:

Jesus was born in the city of Bethlehem as foretold by the prophet Isaiah.  This verse tells us that He was born unto US. He was given unto US.  How special!  This birth, this gift was for US!  This Christmas Season we would do well to personally enjoy the gift of Jesus.  God had you and me in  mind when He sent His Son.  He sent Him as a baby that could be held.  Jesus couldn't talk at first.  The Word that was made flesh - couldn't articulate one word.  We were to receive Him initially, NOT as a teacher, but as a gift to be held and protected.  Receive the gift of Jesus today and know that it was unto you that He was born, unto you His Son was given.

Hear and See

Luke 2:20

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

After the shepherds heard from the angel to go to the city of Bethlehem and look for Jesus who would be in a manger, they went.  When they went, they found the Lord as they were told.  After they heard these things and saw these things, they went back to work glorifying and praising God.  Do you know that the Lord wants to speak to you and wants you to find the Lord as well?  When we allow ourselves to be 'interrupted' in our work schedule, as these shepherds did, to listen and come before the Lord, we will return to our task with great joy and praise.  Maybe take that time at lunch to open your bible or meet with that Christian co-worker to pray.  When the kids go down for a nap, position yourself to hear and see what the Lord has for you.  You and I should return to those tasks at hand glorifying and praising God for all we have heard and seen!

Little Without Him - Renown With Him

Mic 5:2

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

This was a prophecy about where the Messiah would be born.  Bethlehem was not a noteworthy city and was just one of many towns and villages scattered throughout Judah.  The Lord speaks of Bethlehem's size and reputation and then proclaims that out of Bethlehem the ruler of Israel would come forth.  Most people would have been looking for the birth of the Son of God in a much more developed and respected city.     We, like Bethlehem, are each one person among so many that have existed.  If you visit a large cemetery and look at grave marker after grave marker, you start to see your 'insignificance' in the contextual understanding of human existence.  But, like Bethlehem, we may be little among 'thousands', but Jesus Christ wants to be birthed in our bodies by receiving Him as Lord and Savior.  We then have the ruler of Israel, the One whom the angels praised, the One whom the shepherds hastily came to see, the One whom the wise men gave gifts, giving us a place on the map of human existence.  Accept your smallness apart from Him and receive the greatness He gives as He dwells in your heart by faith.  Not many mighty, not many wise according to this world's wisdom have surrendered their lives to His purpose and plans. Know that your are His Bethlehem and He has made you renown.  

Manger Experiences

Luke 2:7

 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.

Joseph and Mary most likely presumed they would be staying in the inn.  They most surely did not plan on having their firstborn in a manger.  What they might have planned on experiencing that first Christmas did not come to pass due to circumstances beyond their control.  There were too many people and the rooms ran out.  When we approach our culture's Christmas celebration we, like Joseph and Mary, could very well have an idea of how things are supposed to go.  Chances are, circumstances beyond our control, could redirect our lives into our own 'manger' experiences.  We look at the precious manger scenes now with great fondness and romanticism.  What may have been an abrupt and unexpected turn of their lives appears to us as God's perfect plan that evokes greater meaning to Jesus' birth than if it had been in the inn.  Can we approach our Christmas season this way?  Are we open to things going in a completely different direction and trusting God is truly directing our paths?  Let us receive the challenge to learn from Joseph and Mary and go with the flow.  Let us take those 'manger' experiences this season and enjoy them, making the most memorable experiences from them.  Let's not be 'control freaks' having to have a room in the inn and demanding that our plans, however noble they are, have to come to pass.  Let us embrace the manger experiences and trust God to use them for His glory and our good.

Jesus is Lord!

Luke 2:11

 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Christ is the Lord.  He is not just a prophet, teacher or example.  He is the Lord.  As the Lord we are to worship Him, preach Him, learn from Him, receive correction from Him, live for Him and obey Him.  He is our Savior BECAUSE He is the Lord.  If He weren't the Lord He wouldn't be able to save us.  God, the Son, became flesh and when He was on that cross became sin, so that we who are flesh might become the righteousness of God in Him.  When was the last time you told Jesus that you love Him?  When was the last time you used His name in worship?  Have you gotten away from Jesus Christ and begun to worship a more abstract concept of the Lord?  Take time today to worship Jesus Christ as Lord and praise Him for being the Savior that was born unto you.  

Learn From the Angels

Heb 1:6

And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

When Jesus Christ was born an angel appeared to the shepherds who were watching their flock at night.  After the angel announced the birth of Jesus, a multitude of heavenly hosts suddenly appeared and in a chorus-like manner declared glory to God and peace to men.  They were worshipping the Lord Jesus Christ and the glory of the fact that God, the Son, had entered the human world, clothed in human flesh.   Jesus is far above the angels and He is worthy to be worshiped.  His birth announcement that day was by multitudes of heavenly hosts.  A host of angles means a large amount of a militarily ordered number of angels.  There were MULTITUDES of these hosts. The angels are our example of the enthusiasm and joy with which our God would have us celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.  Join with the angels and give glory to God for His unspeakable gift and thank Him for the peace that is available through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Starting, Friday November 25th

Come on back Friday November 25th for the first of your seasonal devotions to keep the main thing - the main thing!