- araratchurch
- Dec 22, 2023
- 3 min read
“And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
Luke 2:12 NKJV
Obviously, when we read stories from the Bible, we are not given all the minutia of the events. Basically, we are told what we need to know to be able to form a correct picture.
Additionally, we see that many major events described in the Word of God have been prophesied at an earlier point in the Bible. As such, important events can be recognized and given due attention. Indeed, the prophetic word gives sign posts letting us know where we are and what we are seeing.
In our opening scripture we see that the angel—having told the shepherds the good news of Christ being born—gives them two signs indicating that they have found the One Who is Christ the Lord.
First, the child will be swaddled in strips of cloth. Secondly, He will be lying in a manger.
Although swaddling was a common practice in those days (as is still today in some cultures), being accompanied with the fact that the newborn would be lying in a manger, basically would remove all doubt that they had found the Christ Child.
Now, why is this important? You see, what the shepherds probably had to do in order to find Mary, Joseph, and Jesus, is left to the imagination.
As we discussed earlier, Bethlehem was overrun with people because of the census. Indeed, so many people were there that there was no place for Mary and Joseph to stay; therefore they were relegated to a barn of sorts.
Now, as we will see, the shepherds went to find Jesus. What we are not told in the narrative is that they probably didn’t go straight and find Him. Chances are that they went to any number of places throughout the city before coming upon the stable in which the Christ Child was born.
Friend, our personal seeking for a savior can feel like a daunting task. So many voices offer relief; but, the fact is, there is only One Savior.
Indeed, God has given us sure signs that Jesus is the Savior, the Messiah. Yes, He fulfilled every Old Testament prophecy concerning the coming Messiah.
Think of it, the testimony of the shepherds after having seen the Lord, was certainly reinforced by the fact that the angel had told them where He would be and in what state He would be found.
Make no mistake, God the Father shepherded every detail concerning the birth, life, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus.
Those of us who recognize Jesus as being the Savior sent from God, do not hold a baseless belief. God’s word enumerates the clear signs that would accompany every aspect of His life. Starting with His birth, the prophetic signs concerning the Messiah, point a big arrow at that baby boy in that manager in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago.
For today meditate on the sure signs the word of God has given us concerning the identity of our Lord. Additionally, consider the myriad signs pointing to the time of the Lord’s return that we are seeing all around us today.
Oh, what a wonderful assurance we have that the baby boy sleeping in that manger on that starry night in Bethlehem was indeed the Savior, Christ the Lord.
As well, prophetic signs assure us that Jesus will soon return—not as a helpless infant—but as a conquering King!
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Dec 20, 2023
- 2 min read
“Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Luke 2:10-11 NKJV
God, in His limitless mercy and love, made good on the promise to send a Messiah to His people.
But here’s the problem, it seems that the people were looking for a Messiah who was going to primarily relieve them from oppression of their enemies.
In actuality, the Lord had given His people victory over their enemies all through the Old Testament. In fact, the enemy only gained the upper hand when the people of God were under judgment for their disobedience.
They did not know that what they really needed was a Messiah or Savior Who would deliver them from their own selves, that is, their own sin. Indeed, their sacrifices were only a holdover for the Lamb of God Who would take away their sins for good.
Several years ago the Lord spoke to me—calling me by name—and said, “You have to know you need a Savior to have One.” Now, The fact is, as long as I can remember, I had thought of the Lord as being my Savior; I didn’t know any other way of thinking. But the problem was that I was somehow still trying to prove my worth to the Lord in a way that He must’ve seen as being prideful.
Now, on the surface, I would never have thought that I was being prideful in that I was often self-deprecating. But, that self-deprecation was often to get a laugh or to “unarm” people who otherwise might have rejected me. Oh, I don’t know how we get ourselves in such cluttered and messy ways of thinking and doing; but the Lord cut through all that mess, opening my eyes to the fact that I was helpless to save myself. As well, there was nothing I could do about that helplessness except to receive the free gift of God through Jesus Christ. Only in doing so, could I appropriate His blood for true freedom from my sin and all my shortcomings.
Oddly enough, as I come to more and more see my need for a Savior, I am more and more able to relax into His arms.
For today meditate on whether or not you are somehow trying to prove your worth to God, trying to “cover” for your own lack.
Additionally, if you are feeling like a naughty toddler sitting with a bowl of spaghetti on top of your head, now facing the glaring eye of your mother, understand that the Lord is the One Who came to clean you up, and He won’t even fuss about what you’ve done!
Again, we need a Savior and we have One! Now, that’s the best news ever!
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Dec 19, 2023
- 2 min read
“Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Luke 2:10-11 NKJV
On that glorious night in Bethlehem, the news to the shepherds that the Savior has been born begins with some of the most needed words anyone will ever hear: “Do not be afraid.”
We are living in the Last Days before the coming of Jesus Christ. Everyday we see the fulfilling of prophecies concerning how this time would be characterized:
““And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.””
Luke 21:25-28 NKJV
Fear festers in the hearts of men as we see our way of life collapsing under the weight of lawlessness. However, the angel instructing those shepherds not to fear, spoke as well to our troubled souls.
Remember, the “good tidings of great joy” was to “all people.” Friend, we need a Savior and we have one!
As well, we also have the promise that these times of great fear will be abruptly ended for us when the Lord says, “Come up here!”
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
John 14:1-3 NKJV
For today mediate on the fact that an important part of preparing for the celebration of the Lord‘s birth and His Second Coming is to remind ourselves that although it looks as though things are spinning out of control, they’re actually propelling us toward the ultimate rescue mission!
Now, the Lord has promised to sustain us even in the midst of trouble. But make no mistake, just as the darkness was abruptly illuminated by a heavenly host on that Holy night, just so, Christ will soon interrupt the darkness of this present world with His glorious appearing.
Now that’s good news! Therefore, do not fear!
Peace to you!
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!