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Category: Christmas Page 4 of 5

Christmas Perspectives :: God With(in) Us

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On December 18, 2012

In Christian, Christmas, Perspectives

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

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On December 17, 2012

In Christian, Christmas, Perspectives

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

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On December 30, 2010

In Christian, Christmas

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

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On December 29, 2010

In Christian, Christmas

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

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On December 28, 2010

In Christian, Christmas

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

Jesus’ Birthday Gift

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On December 27, 2010

In Become a Child, Christian, Christmas, Reuben

On Christmas day, as we prepared to go for worship to the Church, I explained to our beloved 4 year old son, Reuben, as to what Christmas is all about. I told him that it was the birthday of Jesus and asked him if he had wished Jesus, a “Happy Birthday”. Then I asked him as to what gift, he would want to give to Jesus, on this day? As he pondered, I told him, that the best birthday gift, one can give to Jesus is his or her very own life. I noticed the expression change on my son’s face from inquisitiveness to concern. Then he said, “if we give our life to Jesus as a gift, won’t we be dead?”. I started to tell him, that what I meant was not necessarily the physical offering of our lives, but stopped as I realized that there was a hidden truth in what my son (whom I believed was being used by the Holy Spirit of God) said.

Our lives should be an offering to Jesus, as his gift, in such a manner, that we can join in with Apostle Paul and express “It is no longer, I who live, but Christ Jesus who lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). Being dead to self and sin, and offering our lives to Christ Jesus is the best birthday gift we can give to Jesus. It goes far beyond, just wishing Jesus a “Happy Birthday”, because when one offers their life to Jesus (by believing in His Name and accepting Him to be their Lord and Savior), it will truly be a very “Happy Birthday” for Him, with a lot of rejoicing in heaven, where He has gone to prepare a place for all who believe in Him (John 14:3).

Jesus was God’s gift to man kind, and our gift to Him is our life! Have you given the gift of your life to Jesus, as His birthday gift?

Galatians 2:20 (KJV)
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

The Christmas Exchange

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On December 24, 2010

In Christian, Christmas

Often we talk about Jesus as the gift of God to mankind on Christmas, but seldom do we recognize Christmas as an exchange. On the first Christmas night, an exchange took place. It was the exchange, that Danny Box, the lead pastor of Hill Country Bible Church in Pflugerville, called outrageous implying that “it is not right” for God to exchange

  1. His rights of deity for restraints of humanity
  2. His majestic splendor for horrific shame and
  3. His eternal relation for an experience of rejection

This exchange was not only outrageous but outlandish implying “how can this be”, because His exchange leads to a transformation from

  1. A sinner to a saint
  2. An adversary to being adopted and
  3. Death to Life (abundantly)

Now the questions that remains are, upon hearing this Gospel truth of this outrageous and outlandish exchange, are we willing to

  1. exchange our rights of humanity for the restraints of deity? i.e., total surrender so that the Holy Spirit God is in control of our lives
  2. being shamed for His name now to share in His splendor and glory when He returns? and
  3. experience ephemeral separation with the ways of the world for an eternal relation with Jesus Christ; God the father?

Merry Christmas or should I say, “Merry Exchange!”

The Never-Giving-Up God

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On December 23, 2010

In Christian, Christmas

My beloved wife, Sangeetha and I were talking about the qualities in which we would like our much loved son, Reuben, to grow up with and to, and she expressed that more than Reuben being the smartest or the fastest, she certainly would like him to have two qualities; Humility and a “Never Give Up” attitude i.e., Persistence. As we discussed, I realized that the answer to the question “Why we have Christmas?” was hidden in our conversation. The very essence of Christmas is reflective of these two qualities; The Humility of God and the Persistence of God.

God never gave up on man,  despite man’s (yours and mine) unfaithfulness and rebellion. God so loved the world (you and me) that He gave us His Son (John 3:16), Jesus Christ who humbled Himself by giving up His rights of Divinity for the restraints of humanity, and was born in a manger. Jesus’ Persistence and Humility is furthermore evident even unto the point of death, even death on a Cross (Philippians 2). In the manger, the Cross overshadowed the cradle because God is a Never-Giving-Up God.

Points to Ponder
If and only if God had “given up” on mankind, we would have never had Christmas.
God never gives up on you or me!

God Manifest

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On December 21, 2010

In Christian, Christmas, Quotable Quotes

American pastor, preacher, author, editor, speaker and mentor, A.W. Tozer eloquently put it the “Our pursuit of God is successful, just because He is forever seeking to manifest Himself to us.” In other words, we find God when we seek Him, because, God is seeking us as well. The ultimate manifestation of God to mankind was 2000+ years ago, when Jesus Christ, was born into His own world.

God’s manifest to mankind is Jesus Christ and none other. His name shall be called Immanuel, which means God with us; a.k.a., God manifested to us. The question that then remains and which matters is “Is God manifested in us?“. This happens when we believe in Jesus Christ and trust in Him.

Secret Ambition of God

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On December 20, 2010

In Christian, Christmas

During the Christmas season, it is crucially important to recognize the significance of the reason as to why Jesus had to be born as a  human. When a child comes to a discerning age, they aspire for an ambition that would  allow them to live life to the fullest. We as human are born to live. On the other hand, Jesus Christ had a secret ambition. He was born as a human not to live but instead to give his life away, as aptly put by Michael W. Smith in his song, ‘Secret Ambition’.

Nobody knew His secret ambition
Nobody knew His claim to fame
He broke the old rules steeped in tradition
He tore the Holy Veil away
Questioning those in powerful position
Running to those who called His name
(But) Nobody knew His secret ambition
Was to give His life away.

Mark 10:45 (KJV)
45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

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