I want to wish you a CHRIST-FILLED CHRISTMAS. That’s right – not a Merry Christmas, not a Happy Christmas but a blessed Christmas. My love and prayers for you come from Ecuador, but they reach you wherever you are – in Canada, Ecuador, South Africa, Australia, United Kingdom, the United States of America, no matter where you are, may the love of the Babe of Bethlehem and the Savior of the world, reach you.
CHRISTMAS is not . . . . . . .
CHRISTMAS is not . . . . . .
CHRISTMAS is not . . . . . .
CHRISTMAS is not . . . . . .
CHRISTMAS is the “Coming of the KING of kings – the CHRIST for everyone - from Kings to Commoners"!”
On this Christmas Day 2010, walk with me through the pages of the most precious Book, the Bible, and let us see what transpired with people from “Kings to Commoners” on the first Christmas day, over 2000 years ago.
The reason for Jesus being born and coming into the world is just this . . . .
The only hope for a lost and doomed world, but in comparison, few people voluntarily claim Christ Jesus, as Savior and Lord. How did people at the time of Jesus’ birth React to ROYALTY?
1. MARY . . . . . . Magnified the Lord! When the angel of the Lord told her that she was to bear the Messiah, she responded – “Behold, the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be according to your word.” (Luke 1:36; 46-50)
2. ELIZABETH . . . exalted God and exclaimed, “Blessed is she who believed, for there shall be a fulfillment of those things which were told her of the Lord.” (Luke 1:45)
3. JOHN (in utero) . . . “. . . leapt in Elizabeth’s womb” when Mary entered Zacharias and Elizabeth’s home and greeted them.
4. JOSEPH . . . . . . (1) was willing to marry a pregnant woman; (2) he accepted the Son of God, and took care of Him, and (3) he called His name “JESUS”, because God told Him to do so. (Matthew 1:19-25)
5. ANGELS . . . . . announced the Savior of the World – immediately after His birth. (Luke 2:8-14) Heaven rejoiced; few on earth did. It’s the same today!!
6. WISE MEN . . . . . . (1) Asked “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?”; (2) Worshiped Him. And they presented to him gifts for a King – gold, frankincense and myrrh. (Matthew 2:11)
7. HEROD . . . . . . hated Him and made an outrageous attempt to have Him murdered, killing innocent infants. (Matthew 2:13)
8. SHEPHERDS . . . . . . sought Him and found Him, and then went and spread the news that the Savior of the world had come. (Luke 2:15-18)
9. SIMEON . . . . . . an aged man was spared from death until He saw the child and then when Mary and Joseph brought Jesus into the Temple for the first time “he took Him up in His arms and blessed Him”. (Luke 2:25-28)
10.ANNA . . . . . . an aged prophetess, was led into the Temple. “she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.” (Luke 2:36-38)
11.GOD . . . . . . gave us the greatest GIFT, His SON. He shone a STAR on the place where the MORNING STAR was born. (Matthew 2:2)
MEDITATE WITH ME FOR A MOMENT
Let us take a look at our lives.
1. There is a clear divide in the above instances – those who are for and those against God; those who rejoiced at the coming of the KING AND SAVIOR of the world. The choice is ours, too, a total commitment to Jesus, or closing our hearts to the only King.
2. Kings – two kings are depicted here, the one KING, a tiny infant is the KING over the King Herod, a wicked and murderous man – a picture of Satan. Hear the Word of God, ‘Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world”. Our KING is victorious over all.
3. Willing – Mary was willing to accept Jesus as part of her life. She remained completely committed to this Christ Child. God desires to dwell in us. “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16)
4. Filling – When Mary greeted Elizabeth, she was filled with the Holy Spirit, and even her unborn son, then of six months gestation, jumped in her womb. The Spirit of God permeates every area of our lives, when we rejoice at the presence of the Christ Child.
5. Crown – The wise men crowned Baby Jesus as their KING – gold – He was their king; frankincense – He was their sacrifice; myrrh – He would die – for them – for us. But He wears an eternal crown. He arose from the dead – our only hope of eternal life – in this King who was born! Oh, crown Jesus the King of your life today.
6. Welcome – Joseph welcomed Jesus into his life and his home. Is Jesus welcome in our lives and homes as a permanent resident? God sent a host of angels to welcome His Son and to announce the purpose of Him coming to earth. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill towards all men.” (Luke 2:14)
7. Embrace – Simeon embraced baby Jesus, and then admitted that he could die in peace. “There is no peace for the wicked”, God said. Are you afraid to die? If you die, will you die in peace, knowing that you are going to be with this KING who was born on Christmas day? Why was He born? Why did He come to this earth upon which you and I dwell? “To seek the lost!” “’”As I live”, says the Lord, “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die . . . “’” (Ezekiel 33:11)
8. Win – The shepherds went out, after meeting with Baby Jesus, telling others that the Savior of the world had come. Anna also went about telling the glad news that the Savior of the world had come.
So how do we go about accepting KING JESUS into our lives, and what will follow? (1) we have to make the choice either for Jesus or for Satan; (2) we have to invite Him into our hearts and lives; (3) we must realize that in doing so, He will become the permanent resident in our lives; (4) immediately we accept Jesus as King, God’s Holy Spirit will fill us; we will confess with our mouths that Jesus is our King, that He paid for our sins, and died that we may have Eternal Life; (5) Our lives and the way we live in our homes will be proof that we have crowned this King as our King. (6) we will be concerned for those who have not crowned Jesus as King in their lives, and who face a lost eternity, and will strive to win them for Jesus; (7) We will, like the Shepherds, go out and serve God by reaching others in our world, and like Anna, we will announce that the Redeemer and King has come, and is available to all who want to come to Him.
Do you agree with me, that this is the true meaning of Christmas? Check it out for yourself in the Word of God, and then decide if you will accept Him or “Herod”.
Can I wish you again – “A CHRIST-FILLED CHRISTMAS?” I love you all!
Dawn
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