12/24 Isaiah 9:4-7
For God will break the chains that bind his people and the whip that scourges them, just as he did when he destroyed the army of Midian with Gideon’s little band. 5 In that day of peace, battle gear will no longer be issued. Never again will uniforms be bloodstained by war. All such equipment will be burned. 6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 His ever expanding, peaceful government will never end. He will rule forever with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David. The passionate commitment of the LORD Almighty will guarantee this!
JESUS
Jesus has come to let us know how much the Father loves us. He has come that we might have life. Jesus came to break our bondage to sin, to save us and to give us the guidance and direction we need to lead a victorious life.
Author - Clay Corvin
12/23 Matthew 2:9-11
After this interview the wise men went their way. Once again the star appeared to them, guiding them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! 11 They entered the house where the child and his mother, Mary, were, and they fell down before him and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
YES
Yes Jesus loves me. Yes Jesus loves me. Yes Jesus loves me-the Bible tells me so. Study your Bible so that you are always pointed in the right way. At the appropriate time the Lord will speak to you, He will show you how you should go in life. Trust the Lord with all your heart and He will not forget you.
12/22 Matthew 2:7
Then Herod sent a private message to the wise men, asking them to come see him. At this meeting he learned the exact time when they first saw the star. 8 Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!”
EVIL
Herod was evil. He made His wealth on the backs of the poor. Every thought by Jesus toward you is a thought for good. Christ isn’t seeking to abuse you and miss use you. He is seeking for your best good. The Lord protected Jesus throughout His life until it was time for Him to go to the Cross. Let Christ into you life and He will protect you until it is time for you to return to Him.
12/21 Matthew 2:5-6
“In Bethlehem,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote: 6 ‘O Bethlehem of Judah, you are not just a lowly village in Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’ ”
SHEPHERD
Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He is seeking to equip us to live a Godly, blessed life. Spend time with Jesus. Read the Bible with Him that He might show you His promises to you. Before you were born Jesus knew you and He is seeking you this very moment.
12/20 Matthew 2:3-4
Herod was deeply disturbed by their question, as was all of Jerusalem. 4 He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law. “Where did the prophets say the Messiah would be born?” he asked them.
WHY?
Herod was looking for Jesus to kill Him. He had no interest in God or anyone else. Jesus is interested in you. He wants to be involved in your life, every aspect of your life and every moment of your life. Jesus is Lord and He is looking for you.
12/19 Matthew 2:1-2
Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, 2 “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We have seen his star as it arose, and we have come to worship him.”
PAGANS
These wise men from the East were pagans. They believed in science to the exclusion of God. God called them to honor His son Jesus early in His life. God can do anything and use anybody to achieve His goals. What can make us whole? God incarnate living in us and walking with us as we live our life. Dealing with life is always a challenge but if we don’t walk with Jesus it is impossible.
12/18 Luke 2:21
Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived. 22 Then it was time for the purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child; so his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. 23 The law of the Lord says, “If a woman’s first child is a boy, he must be dedicated to the Lord.” 24 So they offered a sacrifice according to what was required in the law of the Lord — “either a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
WORLD
The world is a hard place. Each one of us has enough pain and heartache for the rest of us-nothing is ever easy. Christ gives us the ability to deal with our life-we each can have victory and joy undergirded by peace.
12/17 Luke 2:18-20
All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their fields and flocks, glorifying and praising God for what the angels had told them, and because they had seen the child, just as the angel had said.
TRUTH
This is the truth: Christ came to Earth as the Gospel accounts describe. He lived a perfect life. He was crucified on the Cross in Jerusalem and was raised from the dead by God and is now seated at the right hand of God the Father ever interceding for us. Jesus is Alive and He is more than able to give you life and light for living. Call upon Jesus, the truth of God and ask Him to save you and give you His GRACE- what you need and cannot earn.
12/16 Luke 2:16-17
They ran to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 Then the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child.
CHILD
The Son of God was lying in a manger. Where would you have birthed the CHILD? This was the plan of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost before anything was. Amazing because the Lord knows the end from the beginning. He knows you, all about you and He loves you without reservation. Jesus loves you.
12/15 Luke 2:13-15
Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others — the armies of heaven — praising God: 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors. ” 15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Come on, let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
INTERESTING
It is interesting how the shepherds responded. They were ignored in Jerusalem by the religious leadership but here in the fields next to Bethlehem the Lord sent His angels to announce the birth of His son Jesus. The vast hordes of angels were desperately seeking to know how this birth would turn out and were praising the Lord God Almighty. The Bible tells us that God favors you. His word to you is that Christ came into your world and under the same constraints that you are lived a perfect life by faith. You have access to the Father. Praise Him, trust Him and step out in faith to live like Jesus-one step, one day at a time. Your life is precious and you are favored of God in Christ.