Christmas Perspectives :: Promised Son for the Prodigal

Christmas is the occasion when the Promised Son of God (Genesis 3:15) willingly chooses to go away from his Father’s eternal home in heaven, to come to a temporary home on earth, so that we, the prodigal sons and daughters can leave our temporary home on earth, to go to our eternal home in heaven with Father God.

Points to ponder:
Have you believed in the Promised Son of God, so that you can inherit the place that he has gone to prepare for all those who believe in him and who have received him, in the home, whose builder and architect is God himself?

Philippians 2:6-8 (KJV)
⁶ Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
⁷ But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
⁸ And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

John 14:1-3 (KJV)
¹ Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
² In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Christmas Perspectives :: Condescension for Ascension

On Christmas, Jesus Christ did not condescend leaving his eternal glory and treasures in heaven, to live amongst us, but condescended to live AS us, as a Son of man, so that we may be able to ascend, leaving the ephemeral glory and pleasures of this earth, to live with God as sons and daughters of God.

Points to ponder:
Have you accepted and believed in Jesus Christ, the God who condescended, for when you do, he brings you into glory.

Hebrews 2:9-10 (KJV)
⁹ But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
¹⁰ For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Christmas Perspectives :: The gift of our life

The gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, were given to Jesus, who was born in a dirty manger, to signify that when Jesus is born in our dirty (sinful) lives, we must offer the gift of our life.

We must offer
- our life purified as gold, in the refiner’s fire, to the King of kings,
- our life as a living sacrifice whose incense rises to the One High Priest,
- our life as perfumes of myrrh, that adorns the flesh (body) that is to be dead.

Points to ponder:
Is your life and mine in a presentable state? Can it be said of us that we give the gift of our life as gold, frankincense and myrrh, to the King of all kings, Jesus Christ.

Matthew 2:11 (KJV)
¹¹ And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

Christmas Perspectives :: The wise seek to worship

The wise men asked, “Where is he that is born, the King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:2).

Points to ponder:
Do we like the wise men seek Jesus Christ, who is not just the king of the Jews, but also the King of kings and Lord of lords and do we seek to find him, to worship him?  Am I wise? Are you wise? The wise seek to worship God!

Matthew 2:2 (KJV)
² Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

Christmas Perspectives :: God’s will towards all men

On Christmas, the angels sang, “Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth and good will to all men” to tell us all, that God’s will that can bring a peace that passeth all understanding (Philippians 4:7) can now be ours.

Points to ponder:
Do you have the peace of God which is a peace that passeth all understanding and which comes only when the Prince of Peace (Jesus Christ – Isaiah 9:6) is born in our lives? This is God’s will towards all men.

Luke 2:14 (KJV)
¹⁴ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Philippians 4:7 (KJV)
⁷ And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Christmas Perspectives :: God With(in) Us

It was the will of God and it pleased him to send forth his Son, who was to be called Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, “God with us.” (John 1:13; Isaiah 53:10; Matthew 1:23).

Points to ponder:
Many today are happy as long as God is just with us and not necessarily within us. What is needful is not just God with us, but God within us, for it is God who worketh [with]in us, both to will and do his good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). Is God with you and me? More importantly, Is God within you and me?

Matthew 1:23 (KJV)
²³ Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Philippians 2:13 (KJV)
¹³ For it is God which worketh [with]in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

 

Christmas Perspectives :: No Fear; Only Faith

God breaks his silence by telling his handmaid (Mary) “Fear not, for thou hast found favor with God.” (Luke 1:30)
After, Jesus calmed the storm, he questioned his disciples, “Why are you so fearful?  How is it that you have no faith?” (Mark 4:40) According to this text, the opposite of fear is not courage but faith.
When we have faith and we believe in Jesus Christ, God’s Salvation is conceived in us  i.e., we accept the Lord Jesus, and there is nothing to fear, for we find favor with God.

Points to ponder:
Is there anything you are afraid of? Accept Christ Jesus within and fear not, says the Lord, for you are highly favored when the Lord is with you, and with God, by faith, nothing shall be impossible.

Luke 1:30-37 (KJV)
³⁰ And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
³¹ And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.
³² He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
³³ And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
³⁴ Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
³⁵ And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
³⁶ And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
³⁷ For with God nothing shall be impossible.

Cross-in Destiny

Recently I came across a painting called “Destiny” which I believe appropriately captures the intent of Christmas. It had the following words inscribed underneath it. “Most of us spend our lives seeking our destiny. One Man [Jesus] created His own. It began in a manger and led to a cross, and it included you. You too have a destiny, and someday … someday soon, your destiny will cross with His.”

Do you know what your destiny is and has it crossed with His [Jesus']? Without Christ Jesus and His cross, one has no destiny. Our destiny must cross in with His. His included you, does yours include Him?

John 3:16 (KJV)
¹⁶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Image Source: Kingdom Galleries

Christmas changes death to departure

Luke 2:25-35 records the prophecy of Simeon; a just and devout man, on whom was the Holy Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit of God had revealed to Simeon, that Simeon would not see death until he had seen the Lord’s Salvation. And when he sees Jesus, Simeon takes Jesus in his arms and blesses Him, recognizing that it is Jesus who is the fulfillment of the Lord’s promise of Salvation to all mankind. Interestingly, after his encounter with Jesus,  Simeon, expresses, “My eyes have seen the salvation of the Lord, now, Lord, let your servant depart in peace”. Though Simeon was to die (experience death), he expresses that he can now depart (not die) in peace.

Those who experience (see) Jesus as their personal Savior have no reason to be concerned or worried about death. Death no longer has any power over those who believe and accept Jesus. They can assuredly depart in peace.

Have you had that personal encounter/experience with Jesus Christ; the Salvation of the Lord; who changes death to a departure of peace?

Luke 2:25-35 (KJV)
²⁵ And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
²⁶ And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
²⁷ And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,
²⁸ Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
²⁹ Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
³⁰ For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
³¹ Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
³² A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
³³ And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.
³⁴ And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;
³⁵ (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

To shine like the Christmas star

Most nativity scenes and Christmas trees have a star that is significantly displayed and this Christmas season as I saw some of these stars, I wondered about the role that the star plays in the Salvation story of Christmas. For those unaware, this star guides those who sought to come and worship Jesus, who was the born King, to where He was. It did not stop until the men that sought Jesus had found Him.

So what can learn from the star in this story?

Though the Star of Christmas lay in a manger, there was a star that pointed the way to the wise men that sought Jesus. We must be like the Christmas star as well. We must shine in such a manner that our lives must point those who are seeking a Savior to Jesus Christ; and all who seek Christ are indeed wise. We must not stop until those around us find Jesus. We are to shine like the Christmas star.

Matthew 5:16 (KJV)
¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Philippians 2:15 (KJV)
¹⁵ That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights (stars) in the world