The wondrous birth of a SAVIOUR is THE most revered, and held to the heart event ever for the human race; one of splendor, beauty, and magnificence! One which gives HOPE to everyone, but is only relevant to those whom accept, and receive CHRIST JESUS AS their SAVIOUR...
*GOD'S* GLORY SHONE upon the dark, and cold world, and HAS continued to do so, with HIS ONLY begotten SON being born of a virgin in a stable manger with the status of THE HEAVENS, but without earthly pomp...
CHRIST JESUS, THE KING OF KINGS, came to defy both Satan, and death, FOR the sake of souls, and the CHURCH OF THE KINGDOM, that anyone who turns TO HIM, might have LIFE eternal, and that abundantly...
MATTHEW 1: 18-25...
18+++Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit.
19+++And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly.
20+++But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
21+++“She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
22+++Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23+++“BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL,” which translated means, “GOD WITH US.”
24+++And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife,
25+++but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.
Let us look to the circumstances under which the Son of God entered into this lower world, till we learn to despise the vain honours of this world, when compared with piety and holiness.
The mystery of Christ's becoming man is to be adored, not curiously inquired into. It was so ordered that Christ should partake of our nature, yet that he should be pure from the defilement of original sin, which has been communicated to all the race of Adam. Observe, it is the thoughtful, not the unthinking, whom God will guide. God's time to come with instruction to his people, is when they are at a loss. Divine comforts most delight the soul when under the pressure of perplexed thoughts.
Joseph is told that Mary should bring forth the Saviour of the world. He was to call his name Jesus, a Saviour. Jesus is the same name with Joshua. And the reason of that name is clear, for those whom Christ saves, he saves from their sins; from the guilt of sin by the merit of his death, and from the power of sin by the Spirit of his grace. In saving them from sin, he saves them from wrath and the curse, and all misery, here and hereafter. Christ came to save his people, not in their sins, but from their sins; and so to redeem them from among men, to himself, who is separate from sinners. Joseph did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, speedily, without delay, and cheerfully, without dispute. By applying the general rules of the written word, we should in all the steps of our lives, particularly the great turns of them, take direction from God, and we shall find this safe and comfortable.
1+++Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
2+++“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.
3+++When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4+++Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.
5+++They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet:
6+++‘AND YOU, BETHLEHEM, LAND OF JUDAH, ARE BY NO MEANS LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH; FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTH A RULER WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.’”
7+++Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared.
8+++And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.”
9+++After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was.
10+++When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
11+++After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12+++And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.
Those who live at the greatest distance from the means of grace often use most diligence, and learn to know the most of Christ and his salvation. But no curious arts, or mere human learning, can direct men unto him. We must learn of Christ by attending to the word of God, as a light that shineth in a dark place, and by seeking the teaching of the Holy Spirit. And those in whose hearts the day-star is risen, to give them any thing of the knowledge of Christ, make it their business to worship him. Though Herod was very old, and never had shown affection for his family, and was not himself likely to live till a new-born infant had grown up to manhood, he began to be troubled with the dread of a rival. He understood not the spiritual nature of the Messiah's kingdom. Let us beware of a dead faith. A man may be persuaded of many truths, and yet may hate them, because they interfere with his ambition, or sinful indulgences. Such a belief will make him uneasy, and the more resolved to oppose the truth and the cause of God; and he may be foolish enough to hope for success therein.
FALL on your knees, and bask in THE LOVE of THE LORD! BE JOYFUL FOR THE GIFT OF LIFE, and FOR ALL HE IS, and DOES! PRAISE *GOD*, WORSHIP HIM WHOLLY, HONOUR HIM in EVERY way, EVERY day; DO GOOD, and BE GOOD, and LOVE as HE LOVES us!!!
MERRY CHRISTmas with ALL my LOVE! *GOD* BLESS & BE WITH US ALL, BUT MAY WE BLESS & BE WITH HIM as well!!!
LWINSOR © 2020
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
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