I trust you will have a blessed Christmas. As you reflect on its full significance, may your heart continue to burst with paeans of praise and thanksgiving at the wonder of it all. How mind-boggling to think that Jesus Christ came from the bosom of the Father to the bosom of a woman. He left the glories of Heaven and put on humanity that we “might become partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4). He became the Son of man that we might become sons and daughters of God. To those of us who believe in HIM, Christmas is blessed. Furthermore, it is our blessed opportunity to ring the bells and let our whole world know!
“He laid aside His purple robe for a peasant’s gown. He was rich, yet for our sake He became poor. How poor? Ask Mary! Ask the Wise Men! He slept in another’s manger. He cruised the lake in another’s boat, He rode on another man’s donkey. He was buried in another man’s tomb” (author unknown). He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. And He is our Savior!
Not one of us knows what the year 2016 holds. Have you been bumped from your comfort zone as you hear about the global, daily, earth-shaking tragedies that threaten us? I must admit that I trembled and had to flee to my comforting, stabilizing, sustaining, all-knowing, and all-wise God in Whom my total confidence must rest and Who is orchestrating the present and Who is holding the future in His hand. Perhaps you are doing that, or need to do that. He gave assurance, and He is giving sustaining peace. “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).
Jesus is concerned about all that affects us. He has promised to make all things work together for our good (Rom. 8:28), and His promises are etched in gold. We mistakenly look in misguided directions for peace, protection, security, success, and happiness. That has failed. Jesus has the solution. He pleads, “Look unto Me” (Isa. 45:22). Look and really, really live. Live in peace, in joy, in love, in hope, in anticipation. Live in full assurance that “God sees, He knows, He cares. Nothing this truth can dim. He gives His very best to those who leave it all to Him.”
Trouble ought to drive us to the Lord in prayer. When He answers He expects us to praise and glorify Him. How do we do that? Make His wonder-working answers known. Give Him the glory. We glorify God with thankful hearts for undeserved mercies. We glorify Him when we encourage and instruct others by telling them how graciously God has cared for us. Be ready always to talk of Him. He is worthy.
Set your gaze on Jesus. May you be sustained by His grace in the year 2016. Perhaps our Savior will return before 2016 arrives! Maranatha.
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