On My Mind...
It all started when Joseph’s fiancée said, “We need to talk.” She then told him this fantastic tale about an angel and a miracle baby. Joseph was just supposed to accept, “God did this to me.” Joseph made plans to quietly get out of the marriage. He loved her, but her story was just beyond belief. That’s when he had an angelic encounter of his own. “Joseph she’s telling you the truth. This is God’s work. You will have a son and you are to name him Jesus because he will save his people.”
The next 9 months were not easy. It’s tough to walk down the street and people snicker. It is no fun being a punch line, but they both took it – after all God had chosen them for a great honor. They would bring Messiah into the world. To add insult to injury, Mary gave birth in a barn! Hardly, seems fitting for Messiah’s arrival.
You have to admit it is a wild story. Miraculous birth, in a barn, angels, shepherds, mysterious wise men from the East? God become flesh? The infinite creator of everything that exists, the one who holds all things together by the power of his might, laying in a manger? Yet, this is the gospel. It is the story of how God, in love, mercy and grace, provided the means of our restoration. The links to which God went to bring sinful humanity into right relationship with Him. When you think about it, it is fitting. He came to barnyard muck and filth because He comes to us as we are and not wished for rearrangements of the facts. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We are rebels, determined to live according to our own desires rather than bend to His will. We are, as the Scriptures put it, enemies of God. Yet, because He loves us, He came to us as Immanuel, God with us, to redeem us. God has demonstrated His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. This is the message of Christmas. He came on a mission. A mission to rescue and redeem. A mission of love and mercy. You cannot separate the manger from the cross. He was born to die. His perfect life given for our corrupt life. His righteousness for our sin. Miss that, and you miss it all. Come celebrate with us this coming Lord’s Day as we rejoice in the fact that unto us is born a Savior, who is Christ, the Lord.
I’m looking forward to worshiping with you and your family, as we gather this Sunday. Have a blessed week, and I’ll see you Sunday.
Rod
The next 9 months were not easy. It’s tough to walk down the street and people snicker. It is no fun being a punch line, but they both took it – after all God had chosen them for a great honor. They would bring Messiah into the world. To add insult to injury, Mary gave birth in a barn! Hardly, seems fitting for Messiah’s arrival.
You have to admit it is a wild story. Miraculous birth, in a barn, angels, shepherds, mysterious wise men from the East? God become flesh? The infinite creator of everything that exists, the one who holds all things together by the power of his might, laying in a manger? Yet, this is the gospel. It is the story of how God, in love, mercy and grace, provided the means of our restoration. The links to which God went to bring sinful humanity into right relationship with Him. When you think about it, it is fitting. He came to barnyard muck and filth because He comes to us as we are and not wished for rearrangements of the facts. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We are rebels, determined to live according to our own desires rather than bend to His will. We are, as the Scriptures put it, enemies of God. Yet, because He loves us, He came to us as Immanuel, God with us, to redeem us. God has demonstrated His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. This is the message of Christmas. He came on a mission. A mission to rescue and redeem. A mission of love and mercy. You cannot separate the manger from the cross. He was born to die. His perfect life given for our corrupt life. His righteousness for our sin. Miss that, and you miss it all. Come celebrate with us this coming Lord’s Day as we rejoice in the fact that unto us is born a Savior, who is Christ, the Lord.
I’m looking forward to worshiping with you and your family, as we gather this Sunday. Have a blessed week, and I’ll see you Sunday.
Rod