“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”–Luke 19:10 “For the Son of man—” That’s Christ! At first glance this seems to be a title unbecoming of our Lord. After all, could this not be said of every man? We only see the signifiance of this title when we realize that it is the title He chose for Himself. Out of great humility He identifies Himself in terms of His humanity. Concerning His ancestry He is called the Son of Abraham and David. Concerning His maternity He is called the Son of Mary. Concerning religion He is called the Son over His own house. Concerning His deity He is called the Son of God. But, in regards to His humanity He calls Himself the Son of man. “—is come—” That’s Christmas! Throughout the ages, one prophet after another took up the harp of prophecy and assured their generation that the Messiah would come. But,each generation went to their grave without having seen this prophecy fulfilled. “But when the fulness of time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law. To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” (Gal. 4:4-5) At long last it could be said, “the Son of man is come”. He came down from the adoration of angels to the abominations of earth, from the blessedness of heaven to the burdens of life, from the comfort of glory to the condemnation of men. Think about it–He came from delight to decadence, ecstasy to execution, glory to gloom, joy to jeers, majesty to misery, peace to pain, and nobility to nothingness. And He did it all for you! “—to seek—” That’s Compassson! Although “there is none that seeketh after God” (Rom. 3:11), Christ came in search of man. Just as God came to Adam while he was hiding in the garden, He took the initiative to search us out and reveal Himself to us in the person of Christ. Just as Jesus came to the place where Zacchaeus was and called him, He is calling for you. “—and to save that which was lost.” That’s Conversion! Jesus didn’t come to see the seven wonders of the world, or to reform corrupt governments, or to start a welfare program to feed the poor, or to heal man’s physical ailments. He came to meet man’s greatest need–“to save that which was lost.” The Son of God became the Son of man that the sons of men might become the sons of God. By nature we are all lost. We are sinners seperated from God and dead in our trespasses and sins. Yet Jesus came to save us–to give us life and reconcile us to God. That’s a love story without equal! This is the true Christmas story. –HDS
PRAISE GOD FOR CHRISTMAS
Do you realize that every aspect of Christ’s birth was a miracle? First, God chose a godly virgin to bear His Son, and through immaculate conception she carried the Lord. Second, through God’s working, Joseph and Mary were required to travel to Bethlehem, the prophesied place of Jesus’ birth. Last, there was no room for the couple in any inn, so they retired to a barn, the place where Christ would be born. Everything from the humble stable, the manger, and the swaddling clothes pictured the future Jesus would have as the Saviour of the world.
Christ’s birth was a miracle! Never forget the fact that God provided a miracle unlike any other that first Christmas night. The birth of the Lord was not merely a joyous entrance of the Saviour into this world (though it was that), but it was also the fulfillment of God’s promise to the world that He would provide a spotless Lamb to take away the sins of humanity.
How much time have you spent praising God this Christmas season? Have you praised Him yet today? Take a moment now to simply reflect on the birth of Christ and all the events surrounding it. Thank God He was in control of every aspect, and provided His Son through a miraculous birth.
Remember the birth of Christ this holiday season. Remember to praise God for fulfilling His promise of a Saviour and the payment of your sins. –Dr. Paul Chappell
CAN YOU MAKE ROOM
“And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:7
Some years ago at a resort area along the East Coast, a small community was having an open town meeting about some financial problems that they were facing. Among the two dozen or so people was one man no one seemed to know who was apparently visiting in that area and had just dropped in on the meeting. He started to make a comment once as various projects were considered, but he was interrupted; so for the rest of the time, he kept still, and he left early. Just as he went out someone arriving late came in, and said breathlessly, “What was he doing here? Is he going to help us?” The rest of them said, “Who are you talking about? Who was that man?” The person who had just arrived said, “You mean you don’t know? That was John D. Rockefeller.”
John Rockefeller, one of the wealthiest men alive during his time, had wanted to help the small community, but because they were too busy to listen to him, he quietly left. Even more wealthy and more powerful than John Rockefeller is our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
How many times have we interrupted God or failed to listen to Him? Often those times that He wanted to help us most we ignored His leading. Notice the picture of this in our verse today, “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7).
While some could argue that the town would have been full and the innkeeper would not have had room for Mary and Joseph, picture the situation. A young man and his very pregnant wife are searching for a room. They are both weary and tired, and perhaps Mary had even begun experiencing labor pains. Rather than making room for them, the innkeeper sent them to the animals’ sleeping area.
What an outrage! Our Lord, the King of kings, deserved better than this. Indeed He did, but He also deserves better than to be overlooked and ignored in your life. What the innkeeper did that night is no different than when you ignore His leading, dismiss His plan, and bypass His guidance. Those times you fail to heed His council are just you telling Christ to take a backseat, to stay in the stable rather than in the inn of your heart.
If you are saved, the Holy Spirit will always live in your heart, but whether you listen to Him or not is your choice. God will always provide His help for you, but whether you accept His help and heed His guidance will determine what place He has in your life. Is He merely a part of your life or is He the driving force behind your actions?
How do you treat the Lord? Do you heed His guidance and obey His commands or could you be represented by the innkeeper who placed Christ in a stable? Don’t allow anything to push God out of your life. No possession, hobby, job, amount of money, or philosophy can replace the One who died on the Cross for you. Allow Him to have first place in your life today and follow His every guiding command. (Dr. Paul Chappell)
I HEARD THE BELLS
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was filled with sorrow at the tragic death of his wife in a fire in 1861. The Civil War broke out that same year, and it seemed this was an additional punishment. Two years later, Longfellow was again saddened to hear the his own son had been seriously wounded as a lieutenant in the Army of the Potomac.
Sitting down to his desk, one Christmas Day, he heard the church bells ringing, and ringing. It was in this setting he wrote:
I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
And in despair I bowed my head
There is no peace on earth I said
For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep,
God is not dead, nor doth he sleep.
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men.
At this Chirstmas time whether you are in sorrow or in joy you can know that God is not dead, not doth he sleep. He knows your every need and longs to comfort you and be that special friend you need. Seek Him this year instead of the outward manifestations of the season. He will give life real meaning and your heart real peace, the peace that passes all understanding. (Copied)
ONLY AND ALWAYS FOR CHRIST’S SAKE
“There is nothing in us or done by us, at any stage of our earthly development, because of which we are acceptable to God. We must always be accepted for Christ’s sake, or we cannot ever be accepted at all. . . . This is not true of us only when we believe. It is just as true after we have believed. It will continue to be true as long as we live. Our need of Christ doesn’t cease with our believing; nor does the nature of our relation to Him or to God through Him ever alter, no matter what our attainments in Christian graces or our achievements in behavior may be. It is always on His ‘blood and righteousness’ alone that we can rest.”–B.B. Warfield
