Christmas Love

From: Simple Devotions

And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshiped him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him. 
– Mark 15:19-20

Christmas. It is one of the most joyous Christian holidays, a time to remember the birth of Christ our savior. Christmas is a time to share our blessings with one another, and to be surrounded by the people we love. It is a time for giving, and a time for forgiving. Most importantly, it is a reminder of how much God loves us.

Last Sunday one of the kids in Junior Church asked, “Why did God send Jesus if He knew He was going to die?” In fact, Jesus wasn’t just going to die, Jesus was going to be mocked, beaten, tortured, and then sentenced to die a slow, painful death by crucifixion. All at the hands of those He came to save.

It’s funny, because as Christians we like to remember the good times in Jesus’ life. We love to tell the Nativity story, but we forget that shortly after His birth Christ needed to flee from Herod’s army. We tell about His wisdom, His love, and His healing, but we forget about His suffering. We forget the price He paid, for our sins. We forget the lengths that God went to show us His love (Romans 5:8).

To be honest, thinking about this leaves me dumbfounded, because God knew what would happen to His Son. God had told Isaiah along with many other prophets of the suffering the Savior would endure. God knew that the very creatures He had created, would crucify Him for trying to save us from ourselves. And yet, God lowered Himself in Christ, feeling physical pain and suffering. God lowered Himself, and let mere humans beat Him and mock Him (Philippians 2:7). The God who has all the power of the universe, humbled Himself to be lower than the angels, and to die at our sinful, hateful hands (Hebrews 2:9).

God knew this would happen ahead of time, and yet He loved us so immensely that He sent His Son, the third person of the Trinity, to suffer a painful death, so that we could spend eternity with our Heavenly Father (John 3:16). That’s the story of love. That is the story of Christmas.

Today, remember the price God paid for you, because of how much He loves you. Remember what true love is, and share that love, God’s love, with all.

The Seventh Stanza

From: Our Daily Bread

  December 19, 2015  

 Read: Luke 2:8-14 | Bible in a Year: Jonah 1–4; Revelation 10

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

Luke 2:11

In the summer of 1861, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s wife, Frances, died tragically in a fire. That first Christmas without her, he wrote in his diary, “How inexpressibly sad are the holidays.” The next year was no better, as he recorded, “ ‘A merry Christmas,’ say the children, but that is no more for me.”

In 1863, as the American Civil War was dragging on, Longfellow’s son joined the army against his father’s wishes and was critically injured. On Christmas Day that year, as church bells announced the arrival of another painful Christmas, Longfellow picked up his pen and began to write, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.”

God makes everything new.

The poem begins pleasantly, lyrically, but then takes a dark turn. The violent imagery of the pivotal fourth verse ill suits a Christmas carol. “Accursed” cannons “thundered,” mocking the message of peace. By the fifth and sixth verses, Longfellow’s desolation is nearly complete. “It was as if an earthquake rent the hearth-stones of a continent,” he wrote. The poet nearly gave up: “And in despair I bowed my head; ‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said.”

But then, from the depths of that bleak Christmas day, Longfellow heard the irrepressible sound of hope. And he wrote this seventh stanza.

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: “God is not dead, nor doth He sleep! The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on earth, good-will to men!”

The war raged on and so did memories of his personal tragedies, but it could not stop Christmas. The Messiah is born! He promises, “I am making everything new!” (Rev. 21:5).

Immanuel—God with us!

Focus on Jesus

by Inspiration Ministries

“‘But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.’” Micah 5:2 NKJV

A woman was riding on a bus during the Christmas season. As the story was told by C.S. Lewis, the great writer and Christian apologist, the bus passed a church with a manger scene on display. In disgust, the woman loudly commented, “They bring religion into everything. Look—they’re dragging it even into Christmas now!”

Her reaction demonstrates a transition that has taken place. For many people, the Christmas season has nothing to do with Jesus. Instead, this is purely a time of gift-giving and shopping, parties and celebrations, decorations and holidays. Christmas is even a busy time for many Christians, with a heavy schedule of special services. By themselves, these activities may be fine. But sadly, many people simply don’t want to talk about Jesus.

Think about these examples: A major bank announced that it was closing for “bank holidays,” rather than Christmas. A commercial from a large company edited “God” out of the lyrics of a Christmas carol. Many companies refer to “season’s greetings” or “happy holidays” and refuse to talk about Jesus. One well-known television network specializes in Christmas programming but does not allow anyone to refer to Jesus. The focus entirely is on Santa Claus, gifts, and the secular aspects of the season.

When you think about the Christmas season, what thoughts fill your heart and mind? What are your priorities? Are you preoccupied and busy? Are you focused on the superficial things so important to the world? How often have you paused to think about Jesus? To focus on Him and Him alone? To worship Him?

Christmas Morning Memories

By: Pauline Hylton

I don’t know what you’re doing for Christmas. The Saturday before, Tom and I are traveling to Atlanta to spend a few days with my daughter and her family. We will eat good food, play some games, take long walks and even longer naps.

But on Christmas morning, I hope we will carry on a tradition that has warmed my heart for decades. You see, my parents served as officers in The Salvation Army. So, the Christmas season flew by.

But Christmas morning was different. It began with a hearty breakfast of fried potatoes, eggs, and bacon. After that, we gathered in the living room around the decorated tree. Underneath the tree rested paper bags with writing in them. There were pillowcases filled up and tied with a ribbon, along with a smattering of wrapped packages. The reason for the tacky presents stemmed from the fact we were so busy serving others, we had no time to shop and wrap presents for ourselves.

It didn’t bother me.

Before we opened any gift, my father opened his King James Bible to Luke 2. Either he would read, or he would assign one of us to read. The story never grew old. Each year, it felt like a breath of fresh air to me. Then he would light a single white candle and we would all sing Happy Birthday to Jesus.

Yeah, I know it’s corny. But it was priceless—like the sweet song of redemption.

Tears almost always came to my eyes. As a teenager, my tears came from a grateful heart because of time spent with family. As I grew older, it deepened.

Now, it is worship. Galatians 4:4-5 states this:

“But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.”

The best present of all came wrapped in cloths, lying in a manger. This present won’t rust, doesn’t have payments, and lasts forever.

It’s a no-brainer.

Perhaps you have never embraced this child who became a man to purchase eternal life for mankind. My prayer is that this season you will.

Take a look at these powerful words from the book of Isaiah 9:6-7:

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us.

The government will rest on his shoulders.

And he will be called:

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

His government and its peace will never end.

He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity.

The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!

This child is not like any other. God became man and dwelt among us.

I can tell you right now what my favorite part of Christmas 2018 will be. Sure, I’ll bask in spending time with my grandson and my kids. But then my eyes will tear up as we light a candle and sing a simple song.

The sweet song of redemption.

I pray you can hear it, too.

The Great Life

By Oswald Chambers

December 14 

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled… —John 14:27

Whenever we experience something difficult in our personal life, we are tempted to blame God. But we are the ones in the wrong, not God. Blaming God is evidence that we are refusing to let go of some disobedience somewhere in our lives. But as soon as we let go, everything becomes as clear as daylight to us. As long as we try to serve two masters, ourselves and God, there will be difficulties combined with doubt and confusion. Our attitude must be one of complete reliance on God. Once we get to that point, there is nothing easier than living the life of a saint. We encounter difficulties when we try to usurp the authority of the Holy Spirit for our own purposes.

God’s mark of approval, whenever you obey Him, is peace. He sends an immeasurable, deep peace; not a natural peace, “as the world gives,” but the peace of Jesus. Whenever peace does not come, wait until it does, or seek to find out why it is not coming. If you are acting on your own impulse, or out of a sense of the heroic, to be seen by others, the peace of Jesus will not exhibit itself. This shows no unity with God or confidence in Him. The spirit of simplicity, clarity, and unity is born through the Holy Spirit, not through your decisions. God counters our self-willed decisions with an appeal for simplicity and unity.

My questions arise whenever I cease to obey. When I do obey God, problems come, not between me and God, but as a means to keep my mind examining with amazement the revealed truth of God. But any problem that comes between God and myself is the result of disobedience. Any problem that comes while I obey God (and there will be many), increases my overjoyed delight, because I know that my Father knows and cares, and I can watch and anticipate how He will unravel my problems.

We Are Family

From: Our Daily Journey

  Dec 13, 2018  

Read:

Psalm 133:1-3 
How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! (Psalm 133:1).

During a conference, believers in Jesus discussed differing perspectives on the relationship between Scripture and science. Although we disagreed about important matters, it was obvious the participants on all sides loved Jesus. We didn’t let our differences disguise our bond as members of God’s family. In fact, our unity seemed even sweeter because it shone within our differences.

As Jewish pilgrims walked up to Jerusalem to celebrate one of three annual festivals, they sang of this type of unity: “How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!” It “is as precious as the anointing oil that was poured over Aaron’s head, that ran down his beard and onto the border of his robe” (Psalm 133:1-2). If this happened to me, I’d reach for some shampoo, but an Israelite would have understood. Aromatic oil was used to authorize and empower God’s prophets, priests, and kings. It was a tangible sign the leaders belonged to Him.

Pouring oil on someone’s head isn’t a common practice these days, but the unity it symbolized still authorizes and energizes us. Unity also refreshes, like the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the arid hills of Jerusalem (Psalm 133:3). Most significantly, Jesus said that when believers are united in love, the “world will know” that God loves them as much as He loves Jesus (John 17:23).

Thank God for like-minded believers who agree with us on disputable matters. But thank Him also for brothers and sisters who see things differently. They not only keep us seeking the Scriptures, but our differences supply an opportunity to rally around Jesus. How “wonderful and pleasant” it is to place our focus on Him!

Inside Out

From: Our Daily journey

  Dec 12, 2018  

Read:

Matthew 5:43-48
You are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48).

During two different semesters, I taught a “Discipleship Ministries” course to pastors and lay leaders at our local seminary. As we were reading through the Sermon on the Mount, memorizing Romans 12, and reading through Dallas Willard’s The Divine Conspiracy, one of my students said he’d been convicted. For the first time, he truly understood how Jesus wanted him to live out his faith in his workplace—a place where he’d often been tempted to harbor contempt toward moody and rude customers.

Throughout the Matthew 5 portion of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, He repeats a variation of these words: “You have heard the law that says . . . But I say” (Matthew 5:21-22,27-28,31-32, Matthew 5:33-34,38-39,43-44). Mostly well-intentioned religious leaders of the time had enacted laws and codes to help people follow God more intentionally. The people started believing, however, that following the rules—going through the motions—could make them pure and perfect.

But Jesus protested such theology. He said that if we’re striving to be like our heavenly Father—pure, perfect, holy (Matthew 5:48)—then it’s not enough to go through the motions on the outside. Obedience to God must be on the inside too—in our hearts (see Psalm 15:2, 51:10,16-17). Only then, when our hearts are filled with love for God and others, will we be on our way to becoming pure in our relationships.

My student told our class he knew Jesus was calling him to serve and love customers who mistreated him. It wasn’t enough to be “kind on the outside,” he said. Jesus, through the strength of the Spirit, was calling him to rid himself of internal contempt and bitterness toward others—to be changed from the inside out.