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Birth
of our Lord Jesus Christ
Week
No. 4 in Advent 2005
Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ
Today
is 19th. December 2005, at the end of this week is Christmas Eve
followed by Christmas Day, the days our thoughts turn to the Birth of Our Lord
Jesus Christ, God’s gift to us mankind. We celebrate this by giving and
receiving presents, worshiping in Church, singing Christmas carols, hearing the
age old and yet refreshing good news declared by the angels to the shepherds.
We do have a good time of fellowship with our families and friends.
Christmas is more than this; it is the Birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the
fulfillment of God’s promise to mankind, the hope of salvation and
reconciliation with God. The amazing love of God for us, in God himself
becoming a human being to take on the fight with Satan to give us victory over
sin. Of the many things Jesus said about himself, the following is taken for our
reflection today.
Jesus
says I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in
and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and
destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
(John. 10:9-10 NIV)
I am
the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep.
The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf
coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock
and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing
for the sheep. (John 10:11-13 NIV)
I am
the good shepherd; and I know my sheep and my sheep know me – just as the Father
knows me and I know the Father -- and I lay down my life for the sheep.
(John 10:14-15 NIV)
The
reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life – only to take it up
again. No one takes it away from me, I lay it down on my own accord. I
have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I
received from my Father. (John 10: 17-18 NIV)
In
the above verses we read what Jesus was prepared to do for us, his sheep. The
Bible and history tell what has happened.
In
John 3:16-17 we read “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only
Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son to the world to condemn the world but to save the
world through him.”
Therefore, as we celebrate Christmas let us be aware that we celebrate and
remember what has happened. What is to come as foretold is the Second Coming of
our Lord Jesus Christ. No one, but only God, knows when this would happen. We
need to be prepared for this as the wise virgins who were prepared to meet the
bridegroom when he came (Matt.25:1-13 NIV)
St.
Paul gives this advice to us as he did to the Thessalonians,
“Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all
circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
( I
Thess. 4:16-18 NIV)
As
we reflect on the life of our Lord Jesus Christ and what he has done for us,
during this Christmas may the Holy Spirit guide, teach and sustain us.
This
is sent out by email on Mondays. If you have just come across this for
the first time, and would like to receive it, please send email to
mailto:fvamw@tm.net.my?subject=Reflections
With regards,
Fred.
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