Genesis 3:9-19
Joy to the World’s third verse seems like the perfect one to perpetually skip. Sin? Sorrow? Thorns? Curses? To the quick glance it seems too morbid and morose for Christmas. But those words reflect the reality of the world and our reality – without Jesus. Jesus did come and He overthrew the curse. That means sin has lost. Sorrows are transient. And thorns are living on borrowed time (even goat heads). Joy to the world! James 1:16-18 The wise men brought Jesus gifts that were the best of the best this world has to offer. But perhaps they brought something even more valuable than the gold which crowned Him King and the frankincense that called Him God and even the myrrh that foretold His suffering. Those gifts came hundreds of miles over barren wasteland on little more than an educated hunch. As kings, they could have sent servants. As wise men, they could have commissioned an envoy. But they didn’t. They slept in the cold, fought against the wind, and endured weeks of travel to come personally. They brought themselves to Jesus. How do we give ourselves to God this Christmas? Revelation 21:2-4
The Wondrous Gift is Christ – sent to earth as a fulfillment of God’s promises of a Messiah, a Savior. Jesus promised His disciples a Comforter. Even though He was returning to heaven, His Spirit would reside in them. The Holy Spirit fulfills this promise to this day as He makes His home within us preparing us for our eternal home. He is the down payment, the assurance, that God will keep the rest of His promises to His children. He will rescue them from the grave. He will welcome them into heaven. And He will dwell with them forever. How has God kept His promises to you? How will you bear testimony of His trustworthiness to others? For Deeper Thought… The last verse asks Christ to cast out our sin and abide with us.
Luke 1:76-79
After he got his voice back, Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, used the word “Dayspring” in prophesying about Jesus. Dayspring refers to a day’s dawning and this is the only place where it is used in the Bible. Christmas is a celebration of the dawning of light, hope, and peace for all God’s people. We have been led out of spiritual darkness into hope and peace. For all who believe in Jesus as Savior and follow Him as Lord, heaven is sure and Emmanuel, God with us, indwells them every day of their lives. How will you celebrate the light, hope and peace that come only through Jesus? For Deeper Thought… This song references several other less-common names of Christ. Emmanuel is found in Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23. Rod of Jesse comes from Isaiah 11:1-2 and 10. And the key of David is in Isaiah 22:22 and Rev 3:7. As the Eternal God in the flesh, Jesus is immutable in His character. What He was, He is, and will evermore be. Each of these titles displays a particular aspect of Jesus’ character. How do each of these names and what they represent continue to be relevant to our lives today? Phil 2:5-11
I don’t know about you, but I often think about what Jesus said and suffered. I rarely meditate on what He gave up to come to earth for me: His perfect power, His perfect knowledge, the beauty of heaven’s holiness, immortality. And I think even less about what He took onto Himself to come to earth. Uncertainty. Pain. Tears. Toil. He even shared my sin nature (and He won!). Maybe this Christmas is an opportunity to consider Christ’s sacrifice from this perspective. Is there room in my heart for this Selfless Savior? Galatians 4:4-7 Christmas takes forever to come when you are a child. It may not have taken forever for that first Christmas to come, but it did take thousands of years. And still Israel’s strength Who is the Hope of all the earth came at the perfect time because God’s timing is always perfect, even in our own lives. As He reigns in us, we can trust His working and His timing. As He raises us to His glorious throne this Christmas season, we can trust His goodness and His grace. How will you take comfort in these thoughts this Christmas? For Deeper Thought… Isaiah 61:1-3 These verses embody Christ’s purpose in coming to earth. How do you see Jesus’ purpose foreshadowed in the Christmas narrative? (I have not included the lyrics of any of these Christmas hymns because of copyright issues, but they are certainly worth reading and singing and are readily available online or in your hymnal...if you can find one :). |
The AuthorCome with me as we grow in fellowship with each other and our Savior to whom belongs the Amazing Escape from sin and death and the Amazing Journey into glorious life. Archives
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