Seven Day Christmas Meditations, Seventh Day - Happy Birthday, Jesus

Isaiah 9:6

For unto us a Child is born,

Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called 

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Thank you for coming to us, Emmanuel, 

God with us.

We celebrate you today and always.

Happy Birthday, Jesus.

Seven Day Christmas Meditations, Sixth Day - The Light of the World

Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:1-2

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”  John 8:12 

Reflections:

Are you pursuing, following the light just as relentless as the wise men, never giving up until they found Him?  Jesus is the Light of the world.  

Seven Day Christmas Meditations, Fourth and Fifth Day - Name Above All Names

Philippians 2:5-11

5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

6 Though he was God,
    he did not think of equality with God
    as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
    he took the humble position of a slave
    and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
8     he humbled himself in obedience to God
    and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
    and gave him the name above all other names,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

Seven Day Christmas Meditations, Third Day - "What Am I Clinging to?"

Philippians 2:6-11

New Living Translation (NLT)


6 Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
8 he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.


9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

          In obedience to the will plan of the Father, Jesus, humbly took the human form, not clinging to His status as God. He gave up His divine privileges out of love of the Father and the people He created (For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16).

          In our own lives, God has an assignment and mission for us to do. But sometimes it is hard to obey especially if there are privileges and personal conveniences that we need to give up. Jesus showed the ultimate example of humility and wholehearted obedience because of love.


Reflections:

• What is it in my life that I cling to which hinders me to obey God's perfect will and purpose for me? Am I willing to give it up in obedience to God?

Seven Day Christmas Meditations, Second Day - "Good News"

Part of my 10-year old boy's routine in the morning is reading his Bible.  He is in the book of Genesis this time.  But this morning he told me he wanted to read the Christmas story first before Genesis and I said ok.  So he read Luke 2 and part of it was this:

Luke 2:8-11

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 


Then, he turned the page bookmarked at Genesis and this was part of what he read:

Genesis 18:1, 10

The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day.

10 Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.”


My heart was just so overflowing with joy as I listen to him read and the Holy Spirit revealing the message in His Word.  I was awestruck by how God showed such amazing similarities and contrasts in these two stories. 

In both stories, there was  a supernatural appearance and good news.  For the shepherds, it was the good news that the Savior was born.  In the story of Abraham, the Lord told him that he will have a son.  In both cases, the shepherds and Abraham have their longings before they were given their good news.  The shepherds long for the Savior, the Messiah promised to them by God as prophesied in the past.  For Abraham, he was longing to have a son.  And both were answered by God.  These tell me that my dreams and longings matter to God.  He cares.  He hears.  And just like how He took time to give the good news to the marginalized shepherds, neglected and unimportant to society, I know I matter to God.  And everybody else.  My dreams and my heart's longings matter to Him.

The contrast in the stories is the timing.  For the shepherds, their good news was at that very moment...today.  In the case of Abraham, he had to wait for one year to receive his good news.  This tells me that there are times "today" is the day of God's answer.  But there are situations that there is a waiting time.  But God is faithful to fulfill His promise.

Wow, it is such a wonderful moment to receive such assurance of great love from God.  God is so amazing!!! To Him be all glory and honor and praises!!!



Reflections:

What is my deepest longing this Christmas?  

Seven Day Christmas Meditations, First Day - "What is my part?"

Luke 1:1-4

1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled[a]among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

The book of Luke is the third Gospel.  The author, Luke, was by race an Antiochian, a Gentile and a physician by profession.  He was not a first generation "eyewitness" of the ministry of Jesus. He belonged to the second generation and traveled with Paul. He was not a writer by profession but he wrote the account about Jesus so that his reader may know the certainty of the things that have been taught about the Lord.  Sometimes God asks us to do something for His Kingdom that is out of our comfort zone.  It may not be what we expect but God will empower us to do whatever He asks us to do. 

Luke's motivation and decision and surely submission to the will of God to be a part of what God was doing in his generation was handed down to us and his account of the birth of Christ the Lord is one of the stories we now celebrate.  

Reflections:

What is my part in the story that God is writing in my generation?

What assignment/mission that He is giving me to do to tell His Story?