BIBLE VERSE

Isaiah 7:14 NKJV

¹⁴ Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. The name Immanuel in Hebrew means: God with us.
Have you ever found yourself in a situation in life, where you found yourself pressing into Jesus? I mean really leaning into Him, to the point where His overwhelming peace and presence, simply engulfs you? Yesterday evening for me, was one of those moments in my life. The feeling of utter peace, and the presence of God was absolutely, awe inspiring.

The peace and presence of Jesus I felt last evening, came after a hectic day of being awakened to a sick child. Not knowing what was wrong with her, but understanding that she was hospitalized two and a half years ago, undergoing blood transfusions for anemia. Realizing that her symptoms were eerily similar to those she experienced, when she became anemic. We were taking no chances. So, first thing in the morning, out we go to the clinic. Testing was done, and she was diagnosed with dehydration and a virus. Praise God, it was nothing more!

Thankfully, yesterday evening was a quiet one in our household. Everyone else was sleeping, the lights were dimmed low, the Christmas tree was lit, and the tv was on a low volume. I was sitting in my recliner, not really paying attention to anything that was on tv, when I was reminded that two days from then, we would be celebrating a birth.

Not just any birth however, no, this birth would be like no other, the world has ever experienced. The birth I’m speaking of, is the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Who was born into this world, as a gift from God to all of us. That through the life, death, and resurrection of the Son of God, that we may be forgiven and redeemed. Even though we will never understand God in all of His splendor and glory as humans, if we understand only one thing about Him, understand this. That God loves us all, more then we could ever begin to comprehend or imagine.

John 3:16 (NKJV)

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Because let’s face it, if we as humans, in all of our brokenness, look at the world we live in today. If it were up to us, would we sacrifice our only son, so the sins of world may be forgiven? I’m guessing for most, if not all, that answer would be no. But yet God, in all of His grace, mercy, and love for us, did just that. The Son of God was born to a virgin, conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, and born into broken world, so that the sins of the world may be forgiven, by the sacrifice of God’s only begotten Son.

Romans 5:8 (NIV)

⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

We speak of God’s love as being perfect, unending, unfailing, all-encompassing, never ending, and so much more. When we think of those words to describe the love of God. Our human minds are finite. There is a beginning and an end, as to what we as humans have the ability to comprehend. God has the ability to understand and comprehend everything. For God is omnipotent.

The word omni – meaning “all” and potent meaning “power.” With the attributes of omniscience and omnipresence, it follows that, if God is infinite, and if He is sovereign, which we know that He is, then He must also be omnipotent. He has all power over everything at all times and in all ways. In Ephesians 1:11 we can see that God works “all” things according to His will.

Ephesians 1:11 (ESV)

¹¹ In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,

What God did for us, by sending His Son to live and die for us, is the ultimate act of grace and mercy that we could ever receive. It was this showing of love by God, that is the greatest gift that we could ever receive.

So, this year, when you’re gathered together with family and friends, I would ask you to try one simple little thing. Turn the lights down low, light a candle, or a flashlight if candles aren’t your thing. Open up the bible to your favorite passage, and give thanks to God, for sending His son into a dark world, so that we may be redeemed.

May the light of Christ shine brightly in your heart and soul this Christmas, allowing you to draw ever closer to Him. And may the light of Christ guide you on your way, as you continue to walk with Him. Let us recognize this Christmas, that God has given us the greatest gift of all. Blessings and peace to each of you, this Christmas!