Advent at Ararat 2024 - Day 19: The BEST NEWS ever is that we have a Savior!

Advent “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 completely take away their sins, once and for all!

Several years ago the Lord spoke to me—calling me by name—saying, “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. And, God sees that as pride.

Now, on the surface, I would never have thought that I was being prideful. But I was inadvertently trying to prove that I didn’t need a Savior, treating my salvation as a reward for being a good girl.

Oh, I don’t know how we develop such convoluted 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, nothing I need do, except to accept the free gift of God through Jesus Christ. Only in doing so, could I find freedom from my sinful nature.

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. Yes, when I admit my weakness, He shows His strength on my behalf.

For today let us meditate on whether or not we are somehow trying to prove our worth to God, trying to cover, or offer excuses, for our weaknesses.

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!