Christmas

Has there been a year providing more evidence of a broken world in the last fifty years than 2020? A global pandemic. Businesses are closing. Jobs lost. Suicides are up. Domestic abuse and drug/alcohol abuse up. Divorce up. An incredibly toxic and polarizing presidential election. Riots and vandalism. Racism. Record-setting hurricane season. And the Dodgers deservedly won the World Series.

All of these events testify to the brokenness of this world.

All of these events testify to the desperate need we have for a Savior!

I hope you will not make the same mistake this Christmas that so many did in the first Christmas by missing the One who God sent to save us.

One day a group of men who herded sheep for a living were in a field when an angel appeared to them. (We live in a world where angels exist and appear to people!) They freaked out so strongly that the first thing the angel said to them was, “Calm down!” He went on to declare, “Behold, I bring you good new so great joy which will be for all the people, for today in the city of David (Bethlehem) there has been born for you a Savior who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 1:10-12).

God sent the Savior we need to fix the brokenness we have!

Unfortunately, many people missed the Good News of the first Christmas because Jesus did not do what they wanted Him to do. He did not fit their image of who they wanted their Messiah-Savior to be.
I don’t want you to make the same mistake and miss the power of God’s Christmas gift for you.

Consider this. The angel proclaims that Jesus was to be born as the Christ. The word “Christ” means “Chosen One.” In the Old Testament, God our Father anointed men through the Holy Spirit to prophecy about a future person, God’s Chosen One, who would save the world. For example, Isaiah prophesied during the reign of King Ahaz (Approximately 744-728):

“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us: and the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore” (Isaiah 9:6-7).

The common belief in the 1st century was that when the Christ came, He would reign from Jerusalem, vanquish all Israel’s enemies, and lead the nation into a never-before-seen era of prosperity. But Jesus did not do that. And because He did not fulfill what they wanted, and, they missed the deeper, better work that He was doing.

The Jewish leaders were looking for a physical warrior and missed their spiritual King. They were looking for political liberation and missed their supernatural freedom. They were looking for worldly provisions and missed their eternal inheritance. They were looking for gain in this life and ignored God’s abundant LIFE.
In that manger in Bethlehem lay God Himself in the flesh. That Christmas child would go on to live a sinless, perfect, sacrificial life, serving all who would get near Him. And so many missed Him because Jesus was not who they wanted Him to be and did not do what they wanted Him to do.

Learn from their mistake.

Don’t drift into the trap of believing that the only thing Jesus is supposed to do in your life is to make you comfortable and bless you with the world’s toys. Be super careful that you do not wander from intimacy with the Lord because He is not doing what you think He should be doing.

The world is broken. The events of 2020 conclusively testify. The case is closed. We need a Savior. Get fired up because God sent His Son to be our Savior and fix our mess. Do not make the same mistake many have made before. See Him for who He is. Let Him craft you in His image. And you will celebrate Christmas every day of your life!

With deep love and affection overflowing as I abide in the love of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Jim