My friends, in this Christmas season that is closing this unreal year of COVID, racial challenges and division let us turn to the one who changes it all – Jesus Christ – and it all starts here - read the story of Jesus’ birth here in Luke:
Luke 2:1-21
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
We are so close to the day we actually celebrate Christ’s birth. We should be bursting with anticipation! We should be singing God’s praises. Glorifying God for His ultimate gift of Love.
I have to be honest here. I have wanted to dig in my heals and stop the clock as Christmas has been hurtling closer, faster than I ever remember…it is just arriving way too fast!
But wait, shouldn’t I want Jesus Christ to arrive, sooner versus later? Isn’t that what I am waiting for – reunion with my Savior? Isn’t maybe my perspective on this wrong?
I bring this up more for me to ponder. These feelings of wanting to stop the clock are uncomfortable. Excitement – that is the feeling I want to have about Christmas not anxiety over how fast it is coming .
And when I step back, I realize I do not want to stop the clock. I want to hold His Truth in more moments of my life. I want to live out His Love in a hurting world where many do not know Him, our King Jesus or many who have forgotten Him.
Every day, every hour, every second, until the time arrives when I go home to Him.
I want to hold that excitement of Jesus though the Holy Spirit walking with me on this journey back to Him in eternity.
And this moment by moment feeling of excitement can start on Friday as we celebrate His birth, the Son of Man. It can even start today.
To capture this idea of the excitement that this birthday celebration ought to stir within us everyday view this 4 minute video:
Who Is This King of glory?
My prayer for each of us as we celebrate Christmas on Friday, is that the remembrance of His birth leads to daily excitement to know Jesus, God’s Son, Emmanuel who is infused into our lives as we live to do His work on our journey home! Amen!
My brothers and sisters in Christ, Merry Christmas, have a celebration filled with the Peace that comes from knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
Patrick
Luke 2:1-21
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
We are so close to the day we actually celebrate Christ’s birth. We should be bursting with anticipation! We should be singing God’s praises. Glorifying God for His ultimate gift of Love.
I have to be honest here. I have wanted to dig in my heals and stop the clock as Christmas has been hurtling closer, faster than I ever remember…it is just arriving way too fast!
But wait, shouldn’t I want Jesus Christ to arrive, sooner versus later? Isn’t that what I am waiting for – reunion with my Savior? Isn’t maybe my perspective on this wrong?
I bring this up more for me to ponder. These feelings of wanting to stop the clock are uncomfortable. Excitement – that is the feeling I want to have about Christmas not anxiety over how fast it is coming .
And when I step back, I realize I do not want to stop the clock. I want to hold His Truth in more moments of my life. I want to live out His Love in a hurting world where many do not know Him, our King Jesus or many who have forgotten Him.
Every day, every hour, every second, until the time arrives when I go home to Him.
I want to hold that excitement of Jesus though the Holy Spirit walking with me on this journey back to Him in eternity.
And this moment by moment feeling of excitement can start on Friday as we celebrate His birth, the Son of Man. It can even start today.
To capture this idea of the excitement that this birthday celebration ought to stir within us everyday view this 4 minute video:
Who Is This King of glory?
My prayer for each of us as we celebrate Christmas on Friday, is that the remembrance of His birth leads to daily excitement to know Jesus, God’s Son, Emmanuel who is infused into our lives as we live to do His work on our journey home! Amen!
My brothers and sisters in Christ, Merry Christmas, have a celebration filled with the Peace that comes from knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
Patrick