December. It's here
once more. The days are shorter. The nights are colder. I get a year older,
LOL!
This time of year, at times, can seem dreary, cold, and heartless. We
are consumed by buying presents and getting the "perfect gift."
It can be overwhelming. Statistics show this time of year is when folks
are depressed the most.
But I have some good news. I already have received the perfect gift. And
so have you. In the darkness, out in the cold, a light appears in the sky. It
is the brightest star in the sky. It announces hope to all.
But the hope of the chorus of Angels announcing the birth of Christ came
to shepherds first. Why is that significant? Shepherds were considered the
lowliest of the low. You were considered "garbage" in society to be a
shepherd. God tells them first that He has sent His Son to claim us and redeem
us. Those who are considered last in our society are first to God and His Son,
Jesus Christ.
Our Savior comes in the most vulnerable form. A baby. Defenseless. In a
manger. In a barn. That child born that night would change the world! He
changes it still today for those who see the Star and walk to its light. Will
you look up in the sky for the light this Christmas? Will you look in the
Manger for God's perfect gift? Will you receive it? You cannot buy it. For you
see Jesus has already purchased us with His blood on the cross.
I will close with this. One Christmas season when I was working retail I
was visited by a woman who was pushing her husband, who was in a wheelchair. He
was dying of cancer. He looked at me and told me it was his last Christmas. She
said they were blessed because they knew it was and could celebrate it and
appreciate it for everything it is. She said it was God's final gift to him.
Needless to say, I went from attitude to gratitude from that day on.
What if this is your last Christmas? Or mine? Let's celebrate every
Christmas as if it is so!
The Birth of Jesus Luke 2
1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be
taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place
while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to their own town to
register.
4So 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. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to
him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the
baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him
in clothes and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room
available for them.
8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch
over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the
glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel
said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great
joy for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to
you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a
baby wrapped in clothes and lying in a manger.”
13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel,
praising God and saying,
14“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15When 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.”
16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was
lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning
what had been told to them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed
at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured all these things and
pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising
God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had
been told.
- Christ the newborn King is born on Christmas day! Hallelujah! Praise
God!
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