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Special Christmas Advent Edition |
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15 December
Jn. 1:14, 17
The birth of grace
When Jesus was born more than two thousand years
ago, He was born full of grace (Jn. 1:14). Thus, He came with a new
way
of knowing God and
relating with Him (see Jn. 1:17). His birth brought grace along
with it (Jn. 1:14, 17). Hitherto, the world used to think of God
in terms
of what they can do for Him. With Jesus’ birth, we now know and
relate with God as the one who has done something for humanity without
any cost to them. Put more clearly, the salvation that Jesus brought
when He was born more than two thousand years ago is entirely by grace
(Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 3:22-24). With Jesus’ birth, the world is not
required to pay any cost in order to receive salvation. Our salvation
does not depend on anything that we have done but God’s grace
which Jesus brought at His birth (see 2Tim. 1:8-10; Tit. 3:4-7). All
that is required is to believe in Jesus and salvation will readily
become ours (see Jn. 1:12-13; Rom. 10:9-10). And since salvation is
entirely by grace as a result of Jesus’ birth more than two
thousand years ago, everybody who believes is entitled to it without
any cost.
Salvation by grace is available through Jesus alone. As we celebrate
Christmas all over the world every year, we must remember that
the salvation that Jesus introduced when He was born more than
two thousand
years ago is entirely by grace and that everyone who believes is
entitled to it. As we celebrate Christmas today around the world,
the grace
of God unto salvation is still available to anyone who believes
in Jesus whose birth we celebrate.
PRAYER: 1. Father, please let your grace of salvation
be my portion.
2. Father, please enable me to believe unto salvation.
16 December
Lk. 2:1-7
Born in history
One of the most common opinions concerning the birth
of Jesus more than two thousand years ago is that the accounts are
legendary and
mythological and
that such a
birth never took place in human history. But here we find the account of
Jesus’ birth
not only in human history but as part of it (see Lk. 2:1-7). His birth account
makes reference to historical figures who are well known in the history of mankind
in general, and the Roman empire in particular (Lk. 2:1-7). His birth coincided
with a major verifiable event in human history (Lk. 2:1-7). With the facts now
available to us, His birth can be safely and accurately dated (Lk. 2:1-7). Numerous
Roman and Jewish contemporary literatures make undisputed references to Him as
part of human history. Those who keep alleging and teaching that the account
of Jesus’ birth is legendary and mythological do so against the overwhelming
evidence to the contrary. All the evidence put together – biblical
and non-biblical, internal and external, point to a true, real, verifiable,
historic,
and historical birth. Therefore, when we celebrate Christmas throughout
the world today, we are actually celebrating an event that has its origin
and
basis in
human history (see Lk. 2:1-7). It is not an event shrouded in legend and
myth but in human history. The benefit of this one, same birth, belongs
to all mankind
until the end of the age (Lk. 2:9-10; Jn. 3:16; Jn. 1:29). Every human
being can put his trust in the one whose birth is celebrated all over the
world
today as Christmas without being disappointed (Rom. 10:11).
PRAYER: 1. Father, I believe, please take away my
unbelief.
2. Father, please increase my faith.
17 December
Matt. 2:13-18
A divinely secured child
Since Jesus was born for a divine mission to save
mankind, God the father personally took charge of His personal
safety (Matt. 2:13).
He ensured that Jesus
lived in a safe location (Matt. 2:13). Even when Herod conducted a massacre
of
infants with the deliberate intention of killing Jesus, God the Father
ensured that
Jesus was completely safe (Matt. 2:16-18). He protected Jesus for
the sake of the mission
He sent Him to fulfill. Jesus’ mission to save humanity was
so important that God the Father had to guarantee His safety personally.
He protected
Him until the time was ripe for Jesus to fulfill or accomplish His
mission
(see Matt.
26:53-54; Matt. 27:46; Lk. 24:46). As we celebrate Christmas today,
we should note that as God protected Jesus until the time for Him
to accomplish
His
mission was ripe, He is able, ready, and willing to protect us until
His purposes for
our lives are accomplished. Not even a hair of our head can fall
to the ground without His authorization (Matt. 10:30; Lk. 21:7-19).
The complete
safety
of Jesus throughout His birth and early life is a living example
of how God is able
to keep all His children completely safe today until they live out
the fullness of their lives and accomplish His purposes for living
(Matt.
10:30; Lk. 21:17-19;
Lk. 1:37). As Christmas is celebrated around the world today, every
believer can count on the same protection that Jesus enjoyed right
from His birth
to His voluntary death on the cross (Ps. 127:1; Matt. 10:30; Lk.
21:17-19; Lk. 1:37).
PRAYER: 1. Father, please keep me and everyone relating
to me completely safe as you kept Jesus.
2. Father, please deliver me and everyone who relates to me from
every evil.
3. Father, please cancel every evil plan or scheme against me and all
who belong to me.
18 December
Lk.. 1:1-4
A birth carefully investigated and authenticated
In his account concerning Jesus, Luke states that
what he writes is wholly based on eye-witness information and careful
investigation
(Lk. 1:1-4).
People actually
witnessed the events he is writing about (see Lk. 2:15-18; 2Pet.
1:16; 1Jn. 1:1-3; cf. Jn. 15:27; Acts 1:21-22). Therefore, when we
celebrate
Jesus’ birth
every year today, we are not celebrating a myth but an authentic, credible, historical
event (Lk. 1:1-4; Lk. 2:15-18; 2Pet. 1:16; 1Jn. 1:1-3). His birth was personally
witnessed by numerous people (Lk. 2:15-16). Moreover, when Christmas is celebrated
today throughout the world, it is a worthy celebration because it is based on
a trustworthy birth. If there is any event in human history that is wholly trustworthy,
it is the birth of Jesus Christ more than two thousand years ago. But it is never
enough just to celebrate His birth today. The most important thing is that as
we celebrate His birth today whoever and wherever we may be, we accept Him as
our Saviour in order that we may partake of the salvation He was born to provide
(see Jn. 1:12-13; Jn. 3:16). With the trustworthiness of the account concerning
Jesus’ birth, anyone who goes beyond merely celebrating His
birth today and puts his trust in Him will be saved and will never
be disappointed
(Rom.
10:9-11).
PRAYER: 1. Father, please enable me to put my whole
trust in Jesus alone.
2. Father, please take away everything that hinders me from putting
my whole trust in Him.
19 December
Matt. 2:11
One who deserves worship
When Jesus was born more than two thousand years
ago, He was visited by some Magi who bowed down and worshipped Him
when
they saw Him
(Matt. 2:11).
They responded to Him appropriately, as He deserves (Matt. 2:11). Jesus
does not
only deserve
our worshipped, He is entitled to it. This is why His disciples
worshipped Him (Matt. 28:9). The best response we owe to Jesus today
is to worship
Him. In fact,
anyone who does not respond to Jesus in worship does not respond
to Him adequately. Without worship, our response to Jesus is inadequate.
Worship
must be our
first response to Him. Therefore, as we celebrate His birth all over
the world every
year we must ensure that we worship Him. To celebrate His birth
without
worshipping Him is utterly meaningless. It is not possible to have
a meaningful celebration
of Jesus’ birth today without worshipping Him. To worship
Him is to accept Him as the Messiah or Saviour that He is (Jn.
1:12-13).
And
anyone
who accepts
Him as His Messiah or Saviour is the one who has a real basis or
justification to celebrate His birth today.
PRAYER: 1. Father, I accept Jesus as my Saviour. Please
increase and strengthen my faith in Him.
2. Father, please enable me to worship and serve you only.
3. Father, please take away everything that hinders me from worshipping
you alone.
20 December
Lk. 1:26-38
The birth of the Son of God
When the angel foretold Jesus’ birth to Mary His mother, he made it quite
clear that the one to be born is the Son of God (Lk. 1:32-33, 35). Therefore,
when Jesus was born more than two thousand years ago, He was born the Son of
God, as foretold by the angel (Lk. 1:32-33, 35). Jesus’ status as God’s
Son was confirmed during His baptism a few years after His birth (Matt. 3:16-17;
Mk. 1:9-11). To be born the Son of God means that He is fully Lord (see Jn 1:1-2).
Although He took our own flesh, He is fully God (Jn. 1:14). As we celebrate His
birth each year all over the world, it is important to know and take Him as God
that He is (Jn. 1:1-2). It is when we know and take Him as God that He is that
we can give Him the worship and service due to Him. Anyone who does not acknowledge
Jesus as God cannot worship and serve Him as He deserves. And any celebration
of His birth today that does not take account of His deity has nothing to do
with Him. Our celebration of Jesus’ birth today must reflect
the fact that we are celebrating the birth of the one who was
born fully
God (Lk.
1:32-33,
35). What this implies is that any celebration of His birth today
must give Him the worship and service due to Him as God.
PRAYER: 1. Father, I accept Jesus not only as my Saviour
but as my God and Lord.
2. Father, please enable me to worship and serve you as you deserve.
21 December
Is. 9:6-7
Born a King
In one of his prophecies concerning Jesus, Isaiah
stated that the Son to be born will reign on David’s throne (Is. 9:6-7). Although Jesus was born in humble
and mean circumstances (Is. 53:2; Lk. 2:6-7), He was born a King (see Matt. 2:1-2;
Matt. 21:4-5; Lk. 19:38). It was the news that a King by the name Jesus was born
that made Herod to murder numerous innocent children in an attempt to kill Him
(see Matt. 2:1-18). He remains King for ever ( cf. Rev. 11: 15). As we celebrate
His birth throughout the world every year, we need to take account of the fact
that we are celebrating the birth of the one who was not only born King more
than two thousand years ago but remains King forever. As King we must obey Him
and be loyal to Him. In fact, the best way to acknowledge Jesus as King is to
obey Him in every aspect of our lives. Any celebration of His birth that is not
accompanied by full obedience and loyalty to him is incomplete and improper.
We must give Him due obedience and loyalty before our celebration of His birth
today can be a meaningful one. There is no basis or justification for celebrating
His birth when one is not ready or willing to obey and be subject to Him. The
celebration of Jesus’ birth today that is worth endorsing
or commending is the one carried out by His obedient and
faithful children
(Jn. 1:12-13).
PRAYER: 1. Father, I accept your reign over my life
and everything that concerns me.
2. Father, please reign over me and everything that is mine.
3. Father, please over come every other reign in my life
and in everything that has to do with me.
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