Welcome again,
This week I am breaking away from the on-going study to bring recognition to the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This is a happy and glorious time of the year when we bring our gifts to lie at the feet of Immanuel (God is with us).
NKJ John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
John 3:16 is probably the most quoted passage of scripture on peoples minds. From the earliest days as children in Sunday schools across the world, the verse is used as the beginning of the Christian faith. Today I am using this verse as the beginning of this season of celebration of the birth of Jesus.
God the Most High, God the Creator of all living things, God who is the Great I Am, had sent to this earth His one and only Son to become Immanuel. Immanuel is a name with a very important meaning. Now, God is not some far away out of reach God. Now, God is with us, which is the meaning of the name “Immanuel”.
The Father of heaven and all the earth has sent His Son to be with us. Jesus did not come to this earth in all the splendor and glory on would expect of a Son of God.
From the most humble of beginnings Jesus, came to earth as a baby. Jesus was not born into the wealthiest families; instead he was born into the family of a simple carpenter. Amidst all the gossip and scorning, the mother of Jesus was ore than likely the center of conversation around the city well and market places. In fact the only truly spectacular divine intervention to the coming of God’s Son was the Immaculate Conception, which enabled God’s Son to born of a woman. Jesus was born, not in the John’s Hopkins of hospitals or the Mayo clinics of the days; instead He was born in a stable with the sheep, goats, cattle or whatever other animals. There was no huge celebration of a new baby being born just the gathering of a heavenly host of angels and of lowly shepherds to witness this great event for both heaven and earth.
God loved us all within the world that He sent His very own Son, so we may all live and not perish within all the sin and torture of gods of this world. God did not send Jesus here to condemn us as Satan or better named “The Accuser” has condemned us. Instead it is through the life of Jesus, the Messiah, our Deliverer through Salvation by which we are saved.
Let us as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, this season remember that is the need of a good and loving God. We have a Savior of who deserves all the glory and praise we have to offer. Let us be thankful our Father in Heaven has loved us enough to provide us a way of eternal life with Him. And above all I ask that you remember Jesus is Immanuel, still today right here with us each and everyday.
Special Christmas Prayer
To the most Holy and Loving Father, I come to bring to You a gift of Thanks. All I have to offer you as a gift are these words and my life, just as You had so graciously offered Your one and only Son, Jesus. As I take the time here today to remember the birth of Jesus as my Savior, I also think of the life I would have as being alienated from You. You gave Jesus as the offering for my sins so that I could be with You for eternity. Again I shamefully say that all I have to even closely offer You as a gift for the gift You have given me is the life I have. I ask that You forgive me of my sins and shortcomings and allow me to give You the worship and praise fitting for a mighty and just God. You are most Holy and I thank You for the Gift of Jesus Christ.
In Jesus name I pray
This Christmas season let us remember to true reason for the season and give to someone else the gift God has to given to you. The gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, Immanuel
*All scripture quotes are from the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible unless otherwise noted
© 2006, 2007 Tommy Harmon www.thepathseeker.com