- araratchurch
- Dec 23, 2025
- 3 min read
“When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.””
Luke 2:15 NLT
Sometimes, when it seems we can’t get direction from the Lord, or a word from the Lord, we will find that the reason is that we have not acted on the last word we heard from Him.
Of course, this starts with the general instruction given throughout the word of God. If we have not acted on what God has said in His word, how can we expect any “special” word from Him, addressing our personal concerns?
A couple of years before he passed away, I remember that at the end of one of my father’s prayers, he asked the people, “Do you believe the Lord will do this?” And of course, everyone said, “Yes!” Then he responded, “Act on it! Act on it! Act on it!”
You see, there’s the key: If we believe what God has said, our actions, thoughts, etc., should reflect our belief. “Belief,” without corresponding action, is just an idea, or even a whim.
Indeed, one of the Old Testament prophecies concerning the coming Savior, came at a time when the Lord had told Ahaz (king of Judah) that he did not need to fear the king of Assyria and the king of Israel who were colluding to come against him. It seems that when the Lord asked him to name any sign to be given in order to confirm that it would be well with him, he refused to ask for a sign from the Lord.
“But the king refused. “No,” he said, “I will not test the Lord like that.” Then Isaiah said, “Listen well, you royal family of David! Isn’t it enough to exhaust human patience? Must you exhaust the patience of my God as well? All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).“
Isaiah 7:12-14 NLT
Most likely, Ahaz was too afraid to believe that the Lord would keep Judah from being destroyed; perhaps he didn’t want a sign, requiring action on his part.
In our opening scripture, we see that the shepherds, having been told about the Good News, immediately went to find the announced Savior. They acted on what they had heard!
If we believe that the Lord came down that day in Bethlehem all those years ago, if we believe that He lived a spotless life, died a sinner’s death, and was resurrected to Heaven where He sits at the right hand of the Father, then our life should reflect our belief. We should look to Him as Savior and actively serve Him as Lord.
Additionally, we are told that our Lord will return again and take us to be with Him. Certainly, our living should be informed by that glorious expectation.
For today, let us meditate on the ways in which our lifestyles might contradict what we say we believe concerning the word of God. Then, rather than becoming condemned or guilty, let us repent and ask the Lord to help us align our lives with what He has said, reflecting what we profess. As well, let us ask the Holy Spirit to help us live lives illustrative of an expectation of His soon return.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Dec 21, 2025
- 2 min read
“Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.””
Luke 2:13-14 NLT
I think most people—even most Christians—are woefully ignorant of the office and operation of angels. For example, some suppose that when people die, they become angels. That is not true. When people die, if they are Christians, they are with the Lord as a spirit and at some point will be given a glorified body in the resurrection of the dead. Angels, aren’t transformed people. Angels aren’t deceased people who have “earned their wings.” Rather, angels are created beings in their own right.
With that, bear in mind that the translated term, “angels,” is used throughout the Bible to reference a wide range of spirit-persons. Here we address those “angels” we most often imagine: the winged messengers created by God to do His bidding, while watching over the operations of the creation.
“Bless the Lord, you His angels, You mighty ones who do His commandments, Obeying the voice of His word! Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, You who serve Him and do His will.”
Psalms 103:20-21 AMP
Indeed, angels are the servants of God who shepherd His word. God speaks; they obey. As well, their duties include the protection and strengthening of those who are His. They are ministering spirits!
“Are not all the angels ministering spirits sent out [by God] to serve (accompany, protect) those who will inherit salvation? [Of course they are!]”
Hebrews 1:14 AMP
In our opening scripture we see that, having given the Good News to the shepherds, the angel is joined by a heavenly host, a multitude of angels praising God.
Remember, any time we are giving the Good News concerning Jesus Christ, any time we are speaking His word, any time we are lifting up praise and worship toward God, even if we seem to be alone, we can be sure that we have “friends” joining us. In fact, the heavenly hosts accompany us in our praise, accompany us in our evangelism (and other missions from God), and will eventually accompany us in our future duties in the eternal Kingdom of God.
For today, let us meditate on the fact that angels are among us, waiting to hear God‘s word in order to perform it.
Make no mistake, when you speak the word of God from your mouth, while truly believing it in your heart, you will activate the angels to work on your behalf.
Additionally, be quick to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. To be sure, that’s the quickest way you can gather a crowd from heaven!
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!K
- araratchurch
- Dec 21, 2025
- 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 context and a description of the event(s) for an accurate 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 “signposts” letting us know where we are, and what we are seeing. As well, meaning is superimposed by pairing the prophetic word with its fulfillment.
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.
Now, 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—a feeding trough for animals—would remove all doubt that they had truly 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. We see the announcement by the heavenly host; and the next “scene,” finds them in the presence of the Holy Family.
Bear in mind, as 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 (most likely, a shallow cave).
So, the shepherds went and found 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. In the confusion of our circumstances, many “voices” may offer relief. But, make no mistake, 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.
Indeed, 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.
Yes, starting with His birth, the prophetic signs concerning the Messiah, point a big arrow at that precious baby boy, found in that manager in Bethlehem, over 2000 years ago.
For today, let us 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, manifesting all around us today.
Oh, what a wonderful assurance we have that the baby boy sleeping in that manger on that Holy night in Bethlehem, was, indeed, the Savior, Christ the Lord.
As well, prophetic signs inform us that Jesus will soon return—not as a helpless infant—but as a conquering King! Do you believe? Are you looking for Him?
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!