Daily Bible Study

Tweet

CHRISTMAS Luke 2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 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. 8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. (KJV) From the moment man sinned in the Garden of Eden, God promised the world a Savior. Genesis 3:9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. 11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou should not eat? 12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. 13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. 14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: 15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Sin separated us from God and the only way reconciliation could take place was for God to send a Savior to redeem us back to himself. Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (KJV) The story of Christmas is the story of redemption. It starts with the birth of Jesus and ends with his death, burial, and resurrection. God told us how he would redeem us from the very beginning. Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. God told us where our Savior would be born. Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. (KJV) When the time came, God sent us a Savior. Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. God told us why he sent us a Savior. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. There isn’t anything about us that causes us to be worthy of a Savior. The story of Christmas, is the story of love. God loves us so much he made a way for us from the beginning. He showed his love by sending a Savior, born in a place reserved for animals, laid in a feeding trough, and wrapped in swaddling clothes. Even in birth, the symbol of death was on Jesus. He was wrapped in swaddling clothes. When a person died, they were wrapped or swaddled and placed in the tomb. Jesus was born to die. He was born to redeem us from the sin of our parents, Adam and Eve. He was born to set us free from the chains Satan bound us with so we can have eternal life. Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. (KJV) John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (KJV) We cannot save ourselves. We don’t accept Jesus as Savior and Lord by ourselves – it isn’t our idea, our nature to do so. It is God’s love that draws us. 1 John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (KJV) Only Jesus, God’s Son, could be our Savior. He is without sin, the spotless Lamb of God who took on himself the sin of the whole world. Now he waits for us to accept him as Savior and Lord. He doesn’t force his way into our lives, but gently knocks, and waits for us to answer the door. Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (KJV) Today, if God is drawing you to him, answer the door and he will come in and be with you forever. God made the promise, he showed how he would accomplish his promise, he fulfilled his promise, and now the only thing left for you to do is accept the promise, Jesus, as your Savior and Lord. Jesus was born, a babe in Bethlehem, in a mean barn, and placed in a feeding trough. He was born to poor parents, not to the rich and noble, not in a palace, but a stable, a barn, in the lowliest of places, to show us he came for everyone, the poor and rich alike. Everyone has the opportunity to come and kneel at his feet and he will gladly accept you, just as you are. Let’s pray: Father, thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, to be my Savior. Thank you that he came to die, to redeem me from my sin. Help me accept what you provided, a Savior, so I can receive eternal life. Not because I am worthy, but because you love me. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen. Copyright © 25 December 2016 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay