Christmas

December 30th – 1 Timothy 2:5

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1 Timothy 2:5

Many celebrate Christmas around the world. Yet not all celebrate the reason for the season. The reason being the birth of the One, True God, who came in the flesh to save the world. This is the foundational belief of Christianity, and known to Israel as “the Shema.” The Shema is Israel’s statement of faith found in Deuteronomy 6:4-9. Faith that Jesus isn’t just another made up deity. But instead, He is the one and only, God Himself. The Lord came as a humble servant to offer us the gift of salvation and to become our Mediator. A Mediator who established peace between us and God. As our great High Priest, and the only way to our Creator, Christ provides the path of reconciliation between us and our Father in heaven. So not just on Christmas but every day, we too can look to the words of the Shema. And not just acknowledge the Lord as God, but love Him with all of our hearts, souls, and might.

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December 28th – Ephesians 4:11-16

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Ephesians 4:11-16

As we pack up Christmas and look forward to the New Year, let’s take time to reflect on the gifts of God. For His blessings are not limited to the birth of His Son. The minute we receive Jesus as our Savior, the Holy Spirit comes to live within us. And with Him, He brings some pretty incredible gifts. God’s church is made up of the body of Christ. And each Christian is a valuable part of that body. Why? Because the Holy Spirit bestows specific gifts unique to only us. Think of that! We have a God given purpose that only we can fulfill. Our Creator painstakingly equips us with marvelous gifts designed to work in harmony with the gifts of fellow believers. All with the goal of performing as a perfectly tuned orchestra for the glory and purposes of God. And He counts each one as valuable as the next!

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December 26th – John 1:14

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John 1:14

As we celebrate the season, we give thanks to God for coming in the flesh through His precious Son, Jesus Christ. But after the presents are opened, the meal eaten, and friends and family go home, Christmas isn’t over. Christmas is every day when we follow the example of our Lord, and let the Word become flesh through us. For God gives each of us the same calling He gave to that small Babe lying in a manger. To lead the hurting, sick, and desperate back to Him. Our Father in heaven wants us to be living examples of the Word of God. To let our lights shine brightly, becoming beacons for the way, the truth, and the life. All for the “glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” So may we follow our Lord and Savior, and make Christmas a way of life, and not a story to be told once a year.

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December 24th – Isaiah 53:1-5

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Isaiah 53:1-5

I love the song, “Mary did you know?”. And my favorite lyric is, “Did you know that your Baby Boy is heaven’s perfect Lamb? The sleeping Child you’re holding is the Great, I Am.” As a baby lying in a manger, Jesus came as the perfect, unblemished Lamb of God. The only One who can take away the sin of the world and reconcile us back to God, Christ came to suffer and die for us. The Lord knew all He would endure at the hands of the very people He came to redeem. Yet He came anyway. And Jesus He did all of this to perfectly fulfill the will and plan of the Father, walking in perfect obedience and surrender to Him. And because of Christ’s perfect obedience, even to the death on a cross, we can be counted free. “Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters? Did you know that your Baby Boy has come to make you new? This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you.”

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December 22nd – Isaiah 52:7-10

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Isaiah 52:7-10

It never fails. Every Christmas my mother buys socks for the guys in our family. And even though they give her a hard time, in reality they’re thankful for the fresh supply. And after all, feet are to celebrated at Christmas. Especially the feet of God’s messenger. Long before the mailman and email, news was spread through messengers. They ran for miles, far and wide, spreading the news entrusted to them. And their feet took the beating. They were dirty, callused, and ugly. Yet the feet bringing the news to a war torn, scared, and captive Israel, were a beautiful sight. For the feet of this messenger brought good news! Tidings of great joy and peace from the Lord. God had not forsaken His people, and the victory was His. The same glorious message given to us through the feet of a small babe lying in a manger.

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December 20th – Malachi 3:1-6

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Malachi 3:1-6

With Christmas in just a few days, everyone is busy with last minute preparations for the holiday. But more importantly than the tree, gifts, or food, is the preparation we make in our hearts for Jesus. Malachi refers to this preparation as refinement. Gold and silver go through fire to remove the impurities and become precious metals. And as followers of Jesus, we go through the fiery trials of life that shape us into the precious image of Christ. Yet unlike the Israelites who were preparing for Christ’s first coming, we are preparing ourselves for His glorious second coming. God fulfilled His promise of a Savior with the birth of Jesus Christ. And soon He fulfill His promise of Jesus’ return. And this time the babe lying in a manger will come as the conquering King of the world, who comes to reign perfect judgement and righteousness. Are you ready?

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December 18th – Micah 5:2-4

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Micah 5:2-4

I’ve heard it said that Christmas is about the insignificant becoming significant through Christ. And throughout the Bible we see how God does amazing things through not so amazing people. Jacob was discarded in a pit. David was the least of his brothers. Samuel, Moses, and Amos, were all were insignificant nobodies through whom God accomplished great things. The same goes for the city of Bethlehem. Considered a small and insignificant village, no one would have thought it a grand place for the birth of our Savior. Yet once again, God uses the small and unimportant of the world to show His glory and power. For where the world sees weakness, uselessness, and failure, God sees strength, worth, and victory. Qualities He sees shining brightly in us as well. And if we let Him, though us, God will do great and wonderful things for His kingdom.

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December 17th – Jeremiah 23:5-6

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Jeremiah 23:5-6

Even though it’s the Christmas season, there is still much division, hurt, and anger in the world. And unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be much help coming from our elected leaders. 600 years before the angel Gabriel visited a young Mary, Israel faced that same division, hurt, and anger. But the prophet Jeremiah promised that God would raise up a righteous King. And that King is Jesus Christ. As a descendant from the line of David, Jesus came as the humble Lamb of God. But He will return as the conquering King of Judah. And the Lord will reign in perfect justice and righteousness. The world will dwell securely in His unending peace, and never again will we be afraid or lost. So as we celebrate the birth of our Savior, may we also celebrate the coming reign of “the Lord our righteousness.”

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December 16th – Luke 2:8-20

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Luke 2: 8-20

The birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, was a once in a lifetime world changing event. So you’d think God would reveal the glorious happenings to kings, scholars, and the prominent religious leaders of the day. But instead, God announced His gift to the world first to the lowly, simple, and outcast. Shepherds were considered spiritually unclean. Yet temple shepherds tending the unblemished lambs to be sacrificed, were the first to hear the news. How fitting. Because Jesus is the Lamb of God, with no blemish in Him to be found. The Lamb who came for to save the hurt, poor, downtrodden, and outcasts. The ones the world throws away, Christ gladly wraps in His arms of love, and extends His unmerited, amazing grace. So this Christmas, and everyday of the year, I give thanks for the wonderfully good thing the Lord did for me, and every other sinner in the world.

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December 15th – Isaiah 61:1-3

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Isaiah 61:1-3

When some people send out Christmas cards, they include a Christmas letter. They share the news of all that happened with their families throughout the year. Jesus also has a letter to share. And in it He proclaims God’s good news to all who are afflicted. Because of His great love, God sent His only begotten Son to bring healing, freedom, and comfort to a hurt and broken world. And to those He calls His own He gives great gifts. A garland instead of ashes. The oil of gladness instead of mourning. And the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. Calling us “oaks of righteousness”, Jesus says that with Him as our root, we can withstand anything. What a precious Christmas letter to receive! One filled with love from our Savior, Jesus Christ, proclaiming the favorable year of the Lord. A time characterized by God’s grace, redemption, and deliverance!

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