What a Devoted God

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.  Isaiah 7:14 (NASB)

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.”  Matthew 1:23 (NASB)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS!

Many people around the world are still celebrating the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. A baby’s birth is a miracle in itself, but Jesus’ birth is beyond miraculous. We should DAILY remember why Jesus was born, even after the celebrating. He came to earth to live with us. He came to earth to die for us. We are sinful creatures. He is our sinless Savior. When we repent, He redeems us. The cross represents our salvation. Praise God through Jesus Christ for His forgiveness, grace, and mercy. 

Immanuel—God is With Us

Only a devoted, loving Creator God would give up His throne on high
And come down to earth in the form of His own creation,
To be born as a babe and experience life with us!

What a marvelous God we serve!
He loves us!
Immanuel, God is with us!

Only a devoted, loving Rescuer God would humble Himself before men
And walk among the dregs of society with arms full of merciful grace
To break shackled chains of captivity and offer liberating freedom!

What a marvelous God we serve!
He loves us!
Immanuel, God is with us!

Only a devoted and loving Savior God would give His life away 
And allow evil men to beat Him senseless and nail Him to a cross,
To exchange His righteousness for the sins of the world!

What a marvelous God we serve!
He loves us!
Immanuel, God is with us!

Only a devoted, loving Faithful God would ascend back to His heavenly home
And yet daily be near to the hearts of people who continually cry out to Him,
To offer His comforting strength and promising peace!

What a marvelous God we serve!
He loves us!
Immanuel, God is with us!

Heavenly Father God, as 2020 gets underway, enable us to see clearly WHO you are and WHY you came to earth. When we understand your holy righteousness, our sin is made evident and we are humbled by your TRUTH. You gave your LIFE that we may live abundantly in the WAY you lived on earth. Through repentance on our part and forgiveness on your part, we are saved by the blood of Jesus Christ. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for salvation and eternal life. In your name, AMEN. 

Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  John 14:6 (CEB)

 THANK YOU, JESUS!

Our Gift of Christmas

He’s a baby, small and helpless, vulnerable and dependent on his parents. Because he’s not able to walk, talk, or use his hands effectively, his cries signal his needs. They lovingly feed him, change his diapers, bathe him, dress him, put him to sleep, watch over him, and protect him. Whether male or female, we’ve all been that vulnerable. Can you imagine Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, willing to be so defenseless?

Jesus gave up His power, His strength, and His authority to dwell on earth with the people He created. He allowed Himself to be born as a baby, taken care of by earthly parents. He grew up, learning from those in authority. He was a perfect example of humility. 

Jesus lived out His mission on earth in order to teach us how to live out our mission on earth. He introduced a heavenly perspective to those who listened to His teachings. He taught His followers how to die to themselves and their rights as He willingly died for them on a cross. He came to level the playing field among all people on earth, from the impoverished to the elite. Jesus Christ came for all people because all have fallen short of His glory. He came to save all of us sinners. Can you imagine the God of heaven and earth going to such extremes?

God our Heavenly Father loved His creation so much that He gave us His only Son (John 3:16) to live and die among His people on earth. He was rightly called Immanuel, which means “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). In humility He offered Himself as a sacrifice to save those who would believe in Him as Savior. The apostle Paul beautifully describes the humility of Jesus Christ in the second chapter of Philippians. 

Though he was in the form of God,

he did not consider being equal with God something to exploit.

But he emptied himself

        by taking the form of a slave

        and by becoming like human beings.

When he found himself in the form of a human,

        he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death,

        even death on a cross.

Therefore, God highly honored him

        and gave him a name above all names,

    so that at the name of Jesus everyone

        in heaven, on earth, and under the earth might bow

        and every tongue confess that

            Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  Philippians 2:6-11 CEB 

Thank you, God, for loving us so much that you would live on earth among your people, exemplifying for us the righteous life. Thank you, Jesus Christ, for your death and resurrection, enabling us to live eternally with you. Thank you for your gift of Christmas. Amen.

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The Gift of Christmas

What a glorious time of year
When we celebrate the birth
Of a God who loved us so
That He came to live on earth.

Such a wondrous occasion
A holiday so dear,
It may be cold outside
Yet we’re warm because God’s near.

Some will have misgivings,
While others dread the season. 
In this day of automation
Do we have good reason?

Think of Mary, mother of Jesus,
Traveling o’er rocky terrain
On a donkey, big with child, 
I wonder—would she complain?

The Bible explains situations
Mary pondered in her heart.
If hearts were home for Jesus, 
Humans could make a new start.

So let Christ in this Christmas,
He’ll fill your soul with joy.
Together let’s give thanks to God
For sending the Savior boy!

DDC ‘89