Tuesday, December 25, 2012

The Good News

My Utmost For His Highest
 
Jesus Christ was born into this world, not from it. He did not emerge out of history; He came into history from the outside. Jesus Christ is not the best human being the human race can boast of— He is a Being for whom the human race can take no credit at all. He is not man becoming God, but God Incarnate— God coming into human flesh from outside it. His life is the highest and the holiest entering through the most humble of doors. Our Lord’s birth was an advent— the appearance of God in human form.’ CHAMBERS
 
Jesus was born into the world … There is nothing that comes from this world that is holy enough to be acceptable to the Father.  For man to ever have a chance at redemption .. restoration … the only possibility was divine intervention.  I have heard this described in many ways in the past.  Jesus birth was necessary for the atonement of our sins as much as His death and resurrection.  He had appeared in the old testament on occasion … He existed from the beginning .. not since Bethlehem … but the form of man was necessary to fulfill the demands of the Law … Salvation is only possible through Jesus … there is no other solution … when He said “I am the way, I am the truth, I am the life”  that was a statement of fact … there is no other way to the Father .. for redemption … to escape the consequence of sin except through Jesus. The only solution was and is Jesus.
 
Our challenge is to understand and remember the significance of that fact .. and then let that fact influence every aspect of our lives.  Our natural life and its affections will dominate us if we are not careful.  Just look at the way we celebrate His birth as a man and savior.  We have a preoccupation with our flesh … what is supposed to be a celebration of His coming .. is really become a side note to the greater celebration of our affluence and lust for the things of this world.
 
At midnight Christmas eve, Jesus does not hand off the holiday to Santa.  Let this day be a reminder of the great blessing that God gave us in Jesus, the man ..  the Savior … If we are going to celebrate, let’s celebrate to Good News .. that Jesus is our Lord .. that we have eternal life – redemption in the Son.  Let God be glorified in our celebrations and not be lost under the discarded gift wrappings.
 
The source of our joy should be that Jesus is present and not the presents under the tree.
 
Luke 2:10-11  “.... the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”
 
Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

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