God had a Plan, Christmas

I believe it’s time for a bit of a time out! I would like to focus on the season, both for my family and as a current theme for the blog. So why not start by answering a simple question – Why do Christians feel they have to make the celebration of Christmas all about Jesus?

Let’s start at the beginning – God created the universe, including man, and placed him there in a garden. Man sinned, and fell from God’s grace and from being allowed to continue in fellowship with Him. God had a plan, from before the foundation of the earth, to reconcile man to Himself. That’s what Christmas is all about. The enacting of God’s plan to redeem fallen man through the sinless Christ.

Jesus didn’t say that if we followed Him, He would lead us to the truth, or show us the way to find life. He was very clear in what He did say: I AM THE WAY. I AM THE TRUTH. I AM THE LIFE. He also said that no one comes to the Father but through Him.

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

God revealed His plan to His prophets, as we find in the book of Isaiah - many, many verses, but here's just one:

Isaiah 53:5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
And by His scourging we are healed.

God chose a man, John the Baptist, to go before the Christ, to prepare the way by proclaiming repentance. And Jesus came, not as just another teacher or preacher of the way – He Himself WAS – and still is – THE WAY.

He didn’t come as a great and fancy King – although many expected that. He was born in a stable to a simple, God-fearing young virgin woman. Some knew who He was at that time, because God had revealed it to them. But He didn’t become widely known until He had grown – under the care and tutelage of the Holy Spirit, and in subjection to His parents.

During the time of His ministry on earth, His entire focus was completely on His assignment – to do the will of the Father - to do miracles and perform signs, and ultimately to lay His life down, accomplishing salvation of the world. He took our sins upon Himself on the cross, and died the death we deserved, in our place. But He is not dead, because God raised Him from the dead. He now sits at the right hand of the Father, and He is Lord!

That’s why I celebrate Christmas. It is all about Jesus! No one else loved me like that, no one else died for me and accomplished salvation for me so that I can now live in right relationship with God. I hope that you, too, believe and receive God’s free gift of salvation. May God bless all those who celebrate Christmas as an expression of belief in and love for our risen Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ!

Luke 2:7-14 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. "This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."

Job 42:1-2 Then Job answered the LORD and said, "I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.

[ALL SCRIPTURES NASB]

Eternal Value

Recently I posted a devotional I titled, 'A Sobering Conclusion.' It is very short, so for the purpose of retelling it exactly I will simply post it here, again, and then add some additional thoughts... Here is the original post:

I know it's tempting when we read certain scriptures to jump to conclusions, but here's something to think about. The same Jesus who said, "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly," also said, "...not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions." If we are going to hold fast to the whole truth of God, we must come to the sobering conclusion that the "abundant life" is not the same as "material wealth." Just a candid thought.

John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

Luke 12:15 Then He said to them, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions."

And the additional thoughts:

This doesn't mean He doesn't bless us with earthly goods, He certainly does! He is our Provider! And He gives us good things to enjoy during the time of our stay on Planet Earth. But it is so important to guard the real treasure He has given us, and that is eternal life. Our inheritance is not earthly, but heavenly. Personally, that understanding gives me peace, because it is an inheritance that lasts. Our Lord does not want us to allow the "abundant life" He has given us to become consumed by the pursuit of temporary "treasure," the things of this life which have limited use and value for now but have absolutely no eternal value! If our focus is on the temporary, it will block our view of the heavenly.

1 Peter 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

God Had a Plan, Butterfly

It actually was a dark and stormy night. Jesus walked on water. He didn’t even rebuke the wind first. The sea raged – yet Jesus remained calm and walked on the blustery waves. What a picture of perfect faith and peace. I guess He knew His Father had a plan, and so He wasn’t worried.

We all have days when the trials of life seem more than we can bear, almost as if they are engulfing us, trying to pull us down to watery depths. And like the boat the disciples were in at the time, we can feel battered and driven by the waves, not able to come to shore and find rest.

Sometimes God speaks things that are so inspirational to me that I use them in my writing. I combined two separate such words in this little bit of a poem. The words were “tread lightly on the water” and “butterfly feet.” To me, it’s about floating over the trials of life, knowing the water will not overflow me because He is with me and invites me to rest in Him, even in troubled times. I also believe God was simply getting me to think about Jesus walking on water, and that He didn’t do it in any sort of panic.

Butterfly, Butterfly

Butterfly, butterfly
tread lightly on the waters

Butterfly feet, so tiny and neat
the waves are rising to greet you.

Butterfly, butterfly
tread lightly on the waters

You’ve got wings, He’s given you wings
the waves will not overflow you.

Butterfly, butterfly,
tread lightly on the waters.

The butterfly is not big and strong. Think about those tiny, delicate feet! But I don’t think butterflies worry much. After all, He’s given them wings! And if God has a plan for butterflies, He surely has a plan for you and me.

Matthew 14:24 – 25 But the boat was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary.
25And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea.
26When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear.
27But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid."

Job 42:1-2Then Job answered the LORD and said, "I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.
[ALL SCRIPTURES NASB]

God Had a Plan, No Room at the Inn

It must have been a difficult announcement to receive, “No, we have no rooms available at this time.” How hard it must have been for Joseph to walk back out to Mary and tell her. She had already endured so much, being great with child and yet having to travel to Bethlehem. I wonder if she had any sense of panic at all. I would think she at least had to question, “God, how can this be right? Do you really want your Son to be born in a stable?” But she did what she had to do, and soon shepherds arrived from the surrounding regions to give glory to God for the birth of the Savior, the long-awaited Christ. I can almost see God looking down with a smile at the baby in a manger, smiling in love and in knowing that His plan was moving along just fine.


Luke 2:1-20
1Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth.
2This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.
3And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city.
4Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,
5in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.
6While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth.
7And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.
9And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.
10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;
11for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12"This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
13And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14"Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."
15When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us."
16So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.
17When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.
18And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.
19But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.
20The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

***

Job 42:1-2 Then Job answered the LORD and said, "I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.
[ALL SCRIPTURES NASB]