MATTHEW 1:21-23 – She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).”
THEME OF THE DAY: IT IS CHRISTMAS EVERY DAY. I am writing today’s nugget on the morning of March 28th. It is Christmas Day. No, I didn’t get my calendar wrong. It really is Christmas, but the world won’t recognize it. There are no Santa Claus, his sleigh and reindeer displays in stores and yards. I won’t find any festive Christmas trees lit and shining through windows in my neighborhood. Nor will there be frantic people racing through stores looking for last minute gifts and wrapping paper. Yes, the world won’t recognize today as Christmas, but Christians should because the scripture of the day tells us that everyday is Christmas because everyday is the reality of Immanuel, which means God with us.
As Christians, our faith is grounded and rooted in a living Christ, a living Savior, who came as a babe at Christmas, grew as the Godman, died on the cross, rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and sent His Spirit to dwell in His people making Him a living reality to be experienced each day of their lives. I know that is a long sentence but a true sentence. Go back and read it again, then ask these questions, “Is the Christ of Christmas a daily reality in my life or more like a Christmas decoration dusted off in late November, enjoyed in December, and then put away for another year?
The most important truth in living the Christian life is learning to walk in the conscious awareness of Christ’s Presence, not felt Presence, but conscious Presence. What this means is learning to see all of life through the lens the Apostle Paul provided in his second letter to the Corinthians – As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18). As we focus on the unseen and eternal world, two things emerge.
First, centering our minds and hearts on the unseen and eternal takes us into true reality. What we see is real, but only in a temporary realm. It is fading as we are, but to think on the unseen and eternal world is an act of faith that leads us to the second truth; to focus on the unseen and eternal is to draw our attention on Him who is currently unseen and eternal, the Lord Jesus. This is what makes the Christian life real, and is illustrated from the pen of the Apostle Peter – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls (1 Peter 1:3-9).
So, let’s celebrate today and each day. It is Christmas – Immanuel, which means God with us.
PRAYER: “Father, help me to walk each day with the conscious awareness of Your Son’s Presence in my life.”
QUOTE: “Immanuel, God with us, isn’t a decoration we bring out of the closet at Christmas. It is to be a daily reality.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim