December 22 2013
What Are You Waiting For?
Luke 2:8-18 (The Message)
There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, "Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master.
This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger. "At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises: Glory to God in the heavenly heights, Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.
As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. "Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us." They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger.
Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.
Are you eagerly waiting to open those beautifully wrapped Christmas presents? Are you waiting for your family members to arrive to spend Christmas with you? Are you waiting for Santa Claus to bring you some special gift that would be a huge surprise, something you secretly desire to own? Is anyone actually eagerly waiting to celebrate the birth of a Savior, so they can worship Him? Remember, He is only your Savior, if you believe His story (history!) is actually a true story!
Please take time during this busy time of preparation to once again read His story, and believe! If you really do not believe this story, then this year could be the year of your salvation! After you read about how He came to this earth to save all those who could believe, then skip to the end and read about His return in Revelation! Taking note that those who believe, WIN! He will return to live with all those who believed His story, and He will live with us believers forever!
Everyone should be seeking truth, and it is important to know that His Word is truth, likely the only truth you will ever read or hear in this lifetime. The stories humans write are often influenced by other humans, and/or by Satan, who the author of evil and lies! If you want to be inspired to think good thoughts, then you need read and understand God’s Word for it is the only absolute truth that is available. When you read it, first pray for guidance, and expect to believe it! Allow the Holy Spirit to direct you reading and believing!
In one of his letters to Timothy, Paul wrote about truth, godliness and holiness, and about, “God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” Are you seeking to come to such knowledge? I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1-4)
The Christmas season is a time for children, at least that is what most of the store ads tell us. Well actually I agree with this sentiment! However, that idea does not need to avoid anyone because of their age. As one of my favorite Christmas songs says it and Barry Manilow states, “and so I'm offering this simple phrase to kids from 1 to 92 all though it's been said many times many ways Merry Christmas to you.” While this is not a Biblical phrase it does resonate a truth that John wrote about in the Bible. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:12, NLT)
So as you can see God thinks of all those who love Him, as His children. This is about the true God not some fairy tale character like Santa Claus, or Mother Nature or Father Time. In one of my favorite movies made about this fictitious character, titled “The Santa Clause,” one of the main characters says, “You adults have it all wrong.” You say “Seeing is believing!” but I tell “Believing is seeing!” Again this is not a Biblical quote, but it does indicate how followers of Jesus must react during this season, we must believe His story, in order that we can see the truth because we first believe! So we view the manger scene as a real event, because His Word tells us it is!
During this season of Christ-mas we need to do what those sheepherders did, when they were there, “Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.” You have not yet seen the Savior, but you believe His story, and therefore, you need do as those sheepherders did, “They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child.”
Who can you impress this Christmas season with His story? Unlike the sheepherders we have not actually seen the babe lying in a manger, but we have believed His story, and therefore, “Believing is seeing!” Then those we tell this true story to should be affected like the people the sheepherders told, as the Word of God says, “All who heard the sheepherders (story) were impressed.”
The sheepherders went running to Jesus to see the manger scene! Can you slowdown a bit and take time to consider His birth, this year, once again, in a childlike expectancy of this truth?
What Are You Waiting For? “Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born!” Then just wait for His return, to all those who have believed on Him! The mountain is not just a big hill; it is a mountain top event, which you believe!
Wishing you all a
Merry Christmas!
Luke 2:8-18 (The Message)
There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, "Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master.
This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger. "At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises: Glory to God in the heavenly heights, Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.
As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. "Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us." They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger.
Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.
Are you eagerly waiting to open those beautifully wrapped Christmas presents? Are you waiting for your family members to arrive to spend Christmas with you? Are you waiting for Santa Claus to bring you some special gift that would be a huge surprise, something you secretly desire to own? Is anyone actually eagerly waiting to celebrate the birth of a Savior, so they can worship Him? Remember, He is only your Savior, if you believe His story (history!) is actually a true story!
Please take time during this busy time of preparation to once again read His story, and believe! If you really do not believe this story, then this year could be the year of your salvation! After you read about how He came to this earth to save all those who could believe, then skip to the end and read about His return in Revelation! Taking note that those who believe, WIN! He will return to live with all those who believed His story, and He will live with us believers forever!
Everyone should be seeking truth, and it is important to know that His Word is truth, likely the only truth you will ever read or hear in this lifetime. The stories humans write are often influenced by other humans, and/or by Satan, who the author of evil and lies! If you want to be inspired to think good thoughts, then you need read and understand God’s Word for it is the only absolute truth that is available. When you read it, first pray for guidance, and expect to believe it! Allow the Holy Spirit to direct you reading and believing!
In one of his letters to Timothy, Paul wrote about truth, godliness and holiness, and about, “God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” Are you seeking to come to such knowledge? I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1-4)
The Christmas season is a time for children, at least that is what most of the store ads tell us. Well actually I agree with this sentiment! However, that idea does not need to avoid anyone because of their age. As one of my favorite Christmas songs says it and Barry Manilow states, “and so I'm offering this simple phrase to kids from 1 to 92 all though it's been said many times many ways Merry Christmas to you.” While this is not a Biblical phrase it does resonate a truth that John wrote about in the Bible. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:12, NLT)
So as you can see God thinks of all those who love Him, as His children. This is about the true God not some fairy tale character like Santa Claus, or Mother Nature or Father Time. In one of my favorite movies made about this fictitious character, titled “The Santa Clause,” one of the main characters says, “You adults have it all wrong.” You say “Seeing is believing!” but I tell “Believing is seeing!” Again this is not a Biblical quote, but it does indicate how followers of Jesus must react during this season, we must believe His story, in order that we can see the truth because we first believe! So we view the manger scene as a real event, because His Word tells us it is!
During this season of Christ-mas we need to do what those sheepherders did, when they were there, “Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.” You have not yet seen the Savior, but you believe His story, and therefore, you need do as those sheepherders did, “They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child.”
Who can you impress this Christmas season with His story? Unlike the sheepherders we have not actually seen the babe lying in a manger, but we have believed His story, and therefore, “Believing is seeing!” Then those we tell this true story to should be affected like the people the sheepherders told, as the Word of God says, “All who heard the sheepherders (story) were impressed.”
The sheepherders went running to Jesus to see the manger scene! Can you slowdown a bit and take time to consider His birth, this year, once again, in a childlike expectancy of this truth?
What Are You Waiting For? “Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born!” Then just wait for His return, to all those who have believed on Him! The mountain is not just a big hill; it is a mountain top event, which you believe!
Wishing you all a
Merry Christmas!
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