Christmas season has hearts in expectation of looking forward to gifts from loved ones and friends. It is a season of counting down days until the big day arrives. Hopes, desires and dreams of that special gift one hopes to receive. Christmas wasn't realized until a young girl minding her own business doing everyday activities heard a voice of a messenger of God saying . . . .
Luke 1:26 - 39 (NLT) . . . In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee,
27 to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David.
28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”
29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.
30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God!
31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.
32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.
33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”
34 Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”
35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.
36 What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she’s now in her sixth month.
37 For nothing is impossible with God.”
38 Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.
Oh, how Mary responded! One, she listened to the messenger from heaven, the angel Gabriel. Then she thought about it, she didn't take the words of the angel lightly but realized that she was having the Word of God delivered to her. So many times we think we cannot understand what the word of God is trying to reveal to us, the deeper meaning of the words written on paper or voice spoken, but as we consider it, revelation comes and we accept and receive the truth of that spoken word to our heart. That's when the power of the promise of God's word to us becomes life and when we receive it we allow it the opportunity to be produced in our lives. Mary took to heart the truth the angel said to her, she considered and received his words, as she did she allow her faith to give birth to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
The power of God's word is life. It changed a young virgin's life. Not only did it change her life it will change your life as the gift of God is given to you. God gave Mary his son, and his son came to give us everlasting life. John 1:12 says this . . . But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.
13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.
14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
When God decides to send you the gift of his son, receive the messenger and hear the voice of God through his Word. The gospel is the power of salvation to all who believe. . . . . .
Romans 1:16 - 17 (NLT) - For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.
17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”
During the busy holiday season, don't be quick to brush off people, you never know, one may be a messenger of God delivering to you his special gift. A gift wrapped up in the words of his scriptures. . . . John 3:16 - “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
Christmas is God's gift to mankind, offering him life and to be reunited to Him through the gift of His Son, a gift that is priceless and is available to all who will receive it.
On the day Jesus was born shepherds was watching over their flock and angel appeared to them. . . . Luke 2:8 - 14 (HCSB). . . . In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock.
9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
10 But the angel said to them, "Don't be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:
11 today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David.
12 This will be the sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a manger."
13 Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:
14 Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors!
God is sending you favor as you read this blog today. He's reaching down to you to offer you the gift of his Son, his Son will give you eternal life, not only life but peace. Receive his gift today. The greatest gift to be received is Jesus Christ. If you want to know God and receive His Son, please pray with me:
Dear God in Heaven,
I come to You to receive Your free gift of salvation. I believe that Jesus is Your Son. I believe He died on the cross to pay for my sins and that You raised Him from the dead.
Jesus, come into my life. I receive You as my Lord and Savior. I believe Your Word that says I am now forgiven of my sins. I am born again, I am saved, I am a child of God. When I die I will go to Heaven to live with You forever. Thank You, dear Father God, for receiving me into Your family.
In Jesus' Name. Amen.
