Dec 24 2021

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

Many of us have heard the story of Jesus' birth dozens of times. Maybe we even performed in a church Christmas play, acting out the parts of people and animals that were present at His birth. We know that Jesus had an untraditional birth. He was born in an animal stable and placed in a feeding trough known as a manger.

Shepherds were watching their flocks in a neighboring field when angels appeared to them and announced the birth of Jesus. We read in the Book of Luke that the angels told the shepherds to "fear not." The shepherds were most likely terrified to see the sky filled with angels. After all, it was just a typical night for them—or so they thought.

Not only were the shepherds told not to be afraid, but the angels had good news to share with them. So, the shepherds traveled to where Jesus, Mary, and Joseph were staying. They came to worship the newborn King, our Savior.

Jesus' birth was a miracle, and the shepherds were invited to be part of it. God could have told anyone, and He chose shepherds. After they saw Jesus, they spread the word about Him to everyone. The Bible says that those who heard about Jesus' birth were amazed.

No matter how many times we may have heard this story, we should still be amazed at God's plan to send Jesus. His birth changed the course of the entire human race and continues to profoundly affect our lives today. Never forget how amazing this story will always be.

Father, I realize that in the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it's easy to forget how great the birth of your Son was and the impact it has had on my life. May I never take for granted that Jesus came as a newborn baby, lived, and then died for me. As I celebrate His birth, remind me of the sacrifice He made in His death. Thank you for giving priceless gifts to your children. Just like the shepherds shared the good news, help me to have the same enthusiasm about sharing what you have done in my life. In Jesus' name, amen.

Dec 23 2021

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. :

Adam and Eve allowed sin to enter the world, and humanity has suffered ever since. They chose to follow their own desires, instead of doing what God had instructed. Because of their actions our relationship with God was fractured, and it seemed like there was no hope. For centuries, the Jewish people offered sacrifices to atone for their sins. They followed the Law to its fullest, and still, there was a gap between man and God. We longed for a restored relationship with our Creator.

Ever since sin separated us from Him, God has continued to reach out to us. In this afternoon's verse in Galatians, Paul tells us that God had a plan that didn't happen until "the [fullness] of the time" had come. God knew precisely when Jesus needed to come to Earth and die on a cross. It wasn't haphazard; it was intentional. The end goal was for Jesus to redeem us from our sin, so we had the opportunity to become God's children.

Jesus's birth, death, and resurrection fulfilled more than three hundred prophecies that had been given over a span of centuries. Biblical scholars have concluded that the odds of anyone fulfilling that amount of prophecy is one chance in ten to the 157th power. Only God knew all that would be accomplished through Jesus's life.

God's great love for us can be seen throughout time. We are living right now and have the opportunity to know Him because of His plan. We can wholeheartedly choose to experience His love. What an amazing gift!

God, I'm so grateful that you sent Jesus to Earth. It was your plan that He would be born, live as an example to us, die, and then resurrect from the dead. You loved me so much that you spared no expense in sending your Son to save me. I am so glad that you wanted me to be your child. I didn't deserve your sacrifice, but you came willingly, at the exact moment you knew it needed to happen. Everything you say is true. Help me to believe in you like never before. Thank you for your perfect timing in everything you do. In Jesus's name, amen.


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