Posts Tagged ‘ Gospel ’

VerseD: Luke 2:11

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

‭Luke‬ ‭2:11‬, ‭ESV‬

Our God has come to us. He became a weak baby to demonstrate His omnipotence over death and sin as well as life. Trust in and worship Him.

… And a Merry Christmas, too …

I originally wrote this 16 years ago as a part-time homeless young man on the streets of Phoenix. I also happened to be in the house of the family of my then-future wife.

Many things have changed since then, but not Jesus.


As I sit here typing this, “It’s a Wonderful Life” is playing in the background.

It reminds me of how thankful I am to my Lord and my Savior. Even though my life is not exactly in the most stable place right now. Yet, that is exactly one of the reasons I am so thankful.

Imagine this scene:

A young woman, just a teenager, finding herself pregnant in a society that would stone her for adultery within a society that is cruel and dangerous. And when she is about nine months pregnant, she is told she needs to walk over seventy miles. 
She should worry about her fiance leaving her. She should worry about the religious officials dragging her before a court and wanting to "dispose of her." She should be worried about her unborn child coming into a world that seems heartless and callous and deadly. She should ... worry.

What does she do instead?

She trusts what God has told her. She holds on to a promise that everything will be okay… even if it does not seem to be going so well, at the moment.

Her fiancé does stay with her. Yet, there are strange people saying strange things to and about her child. Yet, she learns that her baby’s life is now threatened. She needs to take him to Egypt right away!

How does she react?

She treasures all these things in her heart.

She praises her God. She keeps a hold of His promises.

And what does she say on this day?

It is not “Merry Christmas!”
It is not “Peace and Joy to all!”
It is not even “Let us exchange gifts!”
It was probably something more like “Hello, my child. Welcome to the world. I love you, and I will be here for you.”

Do you know what is so amazing about that?

That is what our Father, our heavenly Daddy, says to each of us on the day we are born.

Even better, He says it the day we decide we need to follow Him.

Even better, He says it every single day.

When is Christmas?

It does not matter what day Jesus was really born on. God cares more for us because of His Son, and the change that He has created in us.

When is Christmas?

It is the day when we respond to His call. When we are reborn in Him. It is Christ born in us. Some call it the day you were saved. Some call it the start of eternal life. Some call it their re-birthday (yo).

But it is our own personal Christmas.

God with us.

Remember this Christmas two things:

God loves you. He loves you so much that He sent His only Son to this earth that we might be with Him forever, in constant fellowship.

Your time to remember Christ is year round, not just once a year. He is not the reason for the Season, but He is the reason for all seasons!

I say to you today if you are not a believer in Jesus as Savior, that He wants you with Him forever, that He has done literally everything to get you and make you His friend and child.

I say to you today if you call on the Name of our Lord, that He wants you with Him forever, and He has done literally everything to get you and make you His friend and child. And He is always holding you in His hand.

I say to all that God loves you. He always has. He always will.

Oh …

I love you, too! Have a great life with our Lord!

… and a Merry Christmas, too…

VerseD: Isaiah 9:6

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah‬ ‭9:6‬, ‭ESV‬

Our God became a baby. He came out of His love for us and His righteousness, showing His power and grace in restoring us to relationship with Himself.

VerseD: Isaiah 7:14

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Isaiah‬ ‭7:14‬, ‭ESV‬

Good became one of us, and He made sure we knew it was Him firstly by having a virgin birth Him. Then He died to save us from sin. Let us celebrate His miraculous love.

VerseD: Psalm 100:2

Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!

Psalm‬ ‭100:2‬, ‭ESV‬

God became one of us to redeem us from sin and separation. Let us gather together in joy to thankfully sing His praises.

VerseD: 1 Chronicles 16:10

Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!

1 Chronicles‬ ‭16:10‬, ‭ESV‬

Because we know that God became one of us to save us from sin and wrath, we can come together as believers and joyfully praise His Name, now and forever!

VerseD: Psalm 47:1

Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!

Psalm‬ ‭47:1‬, ‭ESV‬

Our God became one of us to save us from our sins and restore us to relationship with Him. Let us celebrate His goodness and grace together, worshipping as His redeemed Church.

VerseD: Psalm 28:7

The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

Psalm‬ ‭28:7‬, ‭ESV‬

Our God came to us, showing His love and compassion by becoming one of us, showing His grace and power by saving us from sin and overcoming death. Let us praise Him for His help and power in our lives, trusting our Great King and Shepherd.

VerseD: Romans 15:13

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Romans‬ ‭15:13‬, ‭ESV‬

God came to us as one of us, dying for our forgiveness but rising again, giving us hope for eternal life. We now have His Holy Spirit as a deposit of that hope, so may we feel joy and peace in knowing our eternal destination.

VerseD: John 13:35

“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John‬ ‭13:35‬, ‭ESV‬

God showed His love by becoming like us and dying for us. The absolute least we can do is love each other in the Church, lest we show we are not His disciples. Love with Jesus’ patient, gracious love.