The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. Jer 31:3

I pray that you had a wonderful worship with your local church on the Lord’s Day. There is a growing sense of anticipation among God’s people to celebrate the birth of the Christ Child, the Savior of the world at Christmas. Houses of worship fill with joyful songs of praise celebrate the Christ Child. Luminaries and greenery fill the halls and windows as message to the world that the Eternal Light of the world has come to save His people from their sin. The scenes of the nativity demonstrate how “God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son” (Jn 3:16) to be born “the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world” (Jn 1:29). Christmas is the delivery of God’s message of love to the world. The scripture passage reminds us that God’s message to world is “I have loved thee with an everlasting love.” Everlasting love has no beginning nor has it any end. Everlasting love never fails (1 Cor 13:8) nor forsakes (Heb 13:5). Everlasting love is always faithful. God’s everlasting love existed before the foundation of the world and by His love He created man in His image and gave him dominion over all creations on the earth (Gen 1:28). God’s everlasting love is no more evident than in His Son Jesus. He is “Emmanuel…God with us” (Mt 1:23). God in His everlasting love step out of heaven’s glory to be born in a lowly manger cover in darkness to draw all men to Himself “with lovingkindness.” God, by His everlasting love and lovingkindness desires that none should perish but have everlasting life (Jn 3:16). The birth of the Christ Child is God’s everlasting love to the world that all who believe on Him might have everlasting life. Dear friend, the lonely star of Bethlehem showed the way to the Christ Child. Jesus is the light of the world that shows us the way to the Father, that all may know “with lovingkindness have I have drawn thee.” Father thank You for Your everlasting love and Your lovingkindness through Your Son Jesus. In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.

And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to Thy word. Luke 1:38

We all have visions of hope. Visions of what we expect our life to be or become. We are surrounded by a culture that encourages us to think and imagine the possibilities, shoot for the stars, plan for success, pursue life’s pleasures, and get all that you can, while you can. So much of what we do and what we desire is based on our own self-reliance, individuality, and independence. We can find ourselves wired to resist all things that are contrary to those visions of success and prosperity. The scripture passage is an example of life prepared in the word of God. A life that is prepared to honor God and glorify Him through obedient service. When Mary encountered the angel Gabriel, with news from heaven that could soon change life as she had envisioned, forever. It was as though she received a draft notice from heaven, and she had a choice. She could flee in fear and stay the course for her own vision or submit by faith and serve the will of God. It would be the word of God that directed the steps (Ps 119:133) of the young maiden. The word of God gave her hope in the coming Messiah. It was the word that her fathers had trusted, the word that taught her the faithfulness of God, it is the word that would now call her to walk by faith to believe and trust God. Her response, “behold the handmaid of the Lord,” demonstrates how the word of God had prepared her heart and mind. Her response and preparedness of mind reveal to us that her life was not her own, but that her visions of hope and expectations were in the hands of the Lord. The angel proclaimed to her “thou hast found favour with God” (Lk 1:30). Mary’s hope in the word of God strengthened her heart to “fear not” (v. 30) but believe by faith “for with God nothing is impossible” (Lk 1:37) and say to the glory of God, “be it unto me according to Thy word.” Dear friend, has the word of God prepared you to receive and respond to God’s call on your life? Even though it is hard to do and counter to the culture we live in, be reminded that letting God direct the paths and the passions of our lives is to know the Father and proclaim, “for He that is mighty hath done to me great things, and holy is His Name” (Lk 1:49). Father thank You for Your love and Your faithfulness to the Word of God. Lord, help me to “fear not” when Your Spirit calls, but to “walk by faith” (2 Cor 5:7) that Your will be done “according to Thy word.” In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.

Ah Lord GOD! behold, Thou hast made the heaven and the earth by Thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for Thee. Jer 32:17

Heroes are often determined by athletic prowess, personal talent, financial power, or unselfish bravery.  Heroes are remembered for greatness in the face of insurmountable odds or selfless acts of kindness to overcome what seemed impossible and unimaginable. The only One truly worthy to be called “hero” is the One whose might is unparalleled. The scripture passage reminds us that God “hast made heaven and earth by Thy great power and stretched out arm.” He is Mighty God (Is 9:6). God’s might and strength are clearly displayed in all His creative works, “for by Him were all things created…and by Him all things consist” (Col 1:16-17). His greatness is never more on display than in His Son Jesus. God did the impossible, the unimaginable, and “became flesh and dwelt among us” (Jn 1:14). God “made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men” (Phil 2:7). The Hero of all creation entered the world that He created, that is held together by His “great power and stretched out arm” to be born a Babe, in a lowly manger, in a place where there was no room. God’s great power was displayed in the Babe, who emptied Himself of all His glory (Jn 17:5) and became a Servant to men. A humble Servant, Jesus subjected Himself to His parents and “increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Lk 2:52). He served at the pleasure of the Father, by the power of God, yet He was Mighty God, the God of all power. The eternal power that indwelt Jesus to walk faithfully and obediently to the Father, the power that raised Him from the grave, is given to all who believe in Jesus by faith for salvation from sin. Dear friend, we can have great confidence in His strength and His power, so that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil 4:13) for “there is nothing too hard for Thee.” He is the God of all creation. He is Mighty God. Father, thank You for Your love and Your Son who was born that we might have life and in Him, life everlasting. You are Mighty God. The Eternal, Everlasting Father, from Whom my help and strength come from. In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.