“And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people—for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord’.”
Luke 2:10-11
He’s all we’ll ever need. . .and more.
That night when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Heaven truly came down to earth. Only an all-knowing, all-loving God could have prescribed His coming the way He did: Being born in a lowly stable. . .in a straw-strewn manger. . .surrounded by livestock and poor, peasant shepherds . . .yet His Birth announced by the angel of the Lord and a “heavenly host praising God” (v. 13).
Yes, only the one, true and living God of Abraham could have done that.
And, aren’t you glad He did? Glory!!
When the angel announced Jesus’ birth to the poorly-paid shepherds that night, he turned their worlds upside down. They were “rent-a-shepherds,” who worked for minimum wage. And, little did they suspect that night as they watched over the sleeping sheep that their lives would be radically changed before the next sun dawned.
Look at the angel’s declaration to them:
“Fear not.” Isn’t that just like the One Who said “Let not your heart be troubled” (Jn. 14:1, 27) and who calmed the wind and the waves by saying “Peace, be still” (Mk. 4:39)? Assuredly it is. And, this same God reminds us that He has not “given unto us a spirit of fear; instead, He has given us a spirit of power, love and a sound mind” (II Tim. 1:7).
And, what helps us experience firsthand this “freedom from fear”?
Quite simply “Who Jesus is and what He has done” (Heb. 11:6).
Look once again at the angel’s Good News message:
“For unto you”—not someone else; unto you, notorious Sinner #1; “is born this day”—not tomorrow or next week or next month or next year; today. . .right here. . .right now; “a Savior” —One able to save us from ourselves, sin, “the curse of the Law” (Gal. 3:10, 13), freeing us from our guilt and shame; “Who is Christ”—the long-awaited, anointed/appointed, Promised One from God; the One you’ve been looking for all your life; “the Lord”—the only One Who can transform your life by His indwelling Presence; your one-and-only Master.
Truly, He’s our “one-stop Savior and Lord.” Hallelujah!!
As Mother Theresa once said, “You’ll never know that Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have.” So true, so true.
That’s why we should spend every day giving thanks for God’s Perfect Christmas Gift to us that night in Bethlehem. In Christ Jesus we find, as Watchman Nee said, “the Sum of all spiritual things.” Therefore, let us live our lives today as “a living sacrifice, wholly and acceptable, which is our reasonable service/worship. . .and, in doing, demonstrate by our transformed lives what is God’s good, perfect and acceptable will” (Rom. 12:1-2).
By Tom Smith Morning Manna Dated December 26, 2009
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