As Christmas rapidly approachs, nothing stirs the heart and sets the mood for the celebration like meditating on the person of Christ. Those who think of Him much will think much of Him. There is simply no better exercise for the soul. With that in mind, perhaps these words from the pen of Charles Spurgeon will put you in the right frame of mind:

Christ is unspeakable in his condescension.
Can any one measure or describe how far Christ stooped,
when, from the throne of splendor, he came to a manger
to be swaddled and lie where the horned oxen fed.
Oh, what a stoop of condescension was that!

The Infinite becomes an infant!

The Eternal is dandled on a woman’s knee.
He is there in the carpenter’s shop, obedient to his
parents; there in poverty, crying, “The Son of man has not
where to lay his head;” and there, in thirst, asking of a
guilty woman a drink of water.
It is unspeakable!

Such a Savior is a gift unspeakable.

We celebrate Christ’s birth because of His death. Consider this poem written by John Donne, British poet and preacher during the early 1600s:

Twas much,
that man was
made like God before,
But that God should
be like man
much more.

It is a marvelous thought to think that God made human beings in His own image. That He would pattern us after Himself, knowing of our sin nature is truly miraculous. But even more marvelous is the thought that Christ took on our form and became a man.

Christ didn’t enter our world simply to see what it was like. He didn’t merely want to experience our culture, partake in our customs, or learn our ways. Jesus came to earth for one purpose: to die on Calvary to pay for the sins of mankind.

Even as Mary, the mother of Jesus, cradled Him in her arms that first Christmas night, she knew that one day He would save the world from their sins. She had been told that Jesus’ purpose on earth was to provide salvation for a lost and dying world.

We do not celebrate the birth of Christ simply because of the fact that He left Heaven to come to earth. We celebrate His birth because of His death.

Jesus coming to earth and assuming upon Himself the form of a man is cause to rejoice. What a wonderful God who would leave the glory of Heaven and enter humanity’s imperfection! Yet He did so for a reason. He had a mission for coming to earth and that mission was to die on Calvary as a payment for the sins of the world.

As you reflect on Christmas, don’t forget to also reflect on His death. Remember that He was born so that He could die for your sins on the Cross. The payment God required for sins could never be satisfied unless a perfect sacrifice was offered. God’s only Son, Jesus Christ, willingly offered to be that sacrifice so that one day you could be with Him in Heaven for all eternity.

Have you thought on Jesus’ death this Christmas season? Have you thought about the reason for His birth? Jesus sacrificed His own life so that you could live forever. Don’t take for granted the reason for Christ’s birth. Thank Him that when there was no other sacrifice, He willingly became a sacrifice for you and me.(From “Daily In The Word”)

Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy – James 5:11

The end, or purpose, of the Lord for his people is full of pity and tenderness.

When we feel deeply afflicted, it is hard for us to believe that God is tenderly involved in our lives. We feel as though perhaps God has forsaken us or—worse still—is punishing us for some mistake we have made.

Job, as he was enduring the pain and sorrow of his lengthy ordeal, felt as if he had been utterly forsaken by God. Yet by faith he trusted in God, saying, “He knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (23:10). He relied on God’s good purposes, in the midst of personal pain and loss and anguish.

This is a difficult exercise, because it means living entirely by faith, regardless of our present circumstances. It means trusting God and patiently waiting for him to fulfill his perfect and merciful purposes for us. It means tenaciously holding to a heavenly and eternal perspective, rather than seeking pleasure and fulfillment here and now.

But the example of Job should remind us that even when grief or turmoil hide the face of God from us, he is still working tenderly toward our sanctification and glory.

For this reason, James declares, we count them happy which endure. Those who steadfastly endure the trials God sends their way are, in the end, the most blessed people on earth. Their lives have brought glory to God, their testimony has pointed to eternity, and their faithfulness has reminded us of God’s goodness. (Copied)

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.–John 16:33

It is wonderful that our Savior has promised and provided peace for his people. The following comments on this verse were found in the letters of John Newton, who wrote “Amazing Grace”.

Blessed be God for the news of a better world, where there will be no sin, trouble, nor defect forever!

And when we get safely home–we shall not complain that we have suffered too much along the way. We shall not say, “Is this all I get–after so much trouble?” No! When we awake in that glorious world, we shall in an instant–be satisfied with His likeness. One sight of Jesus as He is–will fill our hearts, and dry up all our tears!

I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:18