We often look back at Christmases of the past with a special fondness. Memories of giving and receiving cherished gifts, meaningful time spent with those we love, moments savoring a meal to mark the occasion. Minutes where all is right become precious mementos of our past. While time moves on, the world around us shifts and we change. Christmas doesn't have to. Your best Christmas ever is ready for you to make. Family, friends, and festivities can be a part of that which makes the holiday special, but the best Christmas ever is the one where Christ is in its center. The greatest Christmas planning was God's on the very first, when God sent his Son to earth, the ultimate present to his children.
I'm David Jeremiah with a Christmas question to ask you. What is the central part of family Christmas celebrations? There are many good answers to that question, but I believe the exchange of gifts is near the top of the list because of what gift giving represents. For the giver, a gift represents generosity, maybe even sacrifice, and for the recipient, a gift brings out feelings of gratitude and humility. These responses to family gift giving our perfect mirrors for how we should respond to the gift God gave to the world on that first Christmas. God's generosity and sacrifice should create gratitude and humility in each one of us. In today's message, which I call, "The Response To Christmas", we'll examine four responses we can find in the story of the first Christmas. So, join me as we discover them together on today's Christmas edition of, "Turning Point".
I'm David Jeremiah with a Christmas question to ask you. What is the central part of family Christmas celebrations? There are many good answers to that question, but I believe the exchange of gifts is near the top of the list because of what gift giving represents. For the giver, a gift represents generosity, maybe even sacrifice, and for the recipient, a gift brings out feelings of gratitude and humility. These responses to family gift giving our perfect mirrors for how we should respond to the gift God gave to the world on that first Christmas. God's generosity and sacrifice should create gratitude and humility in each one of us. In today's message, which I call, "The Response To Christmas", we'll examine four responses we can find in the story of the first Christmas. So, join me as we discover them together on today's Christmas edition of, "Turning Point".
Today I want to talk with you about how we should respond to Christmas. In the four narratives of the Christmas story, there is a hidden truth that will help us isolate the responses of Christmas that will enable us to experience, not just the message of Christmas, but the meaning that it can have to our own lives. We will begin our journey by reading the story backwards. Instead of beginning with Mary, and Joseph, and the shepherds, we will begin our story with the wise men.
That story is recorded for us in Matthew chapter 2, verses 1 through 12 where we read these words, "Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, 'Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.' When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, 'In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet".
That story is recorded for us in Matthew chapter 2, verses 1 through 12 where we read these words, "Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, 'Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.' When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, 'In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet".
Merry Christmas Scott and thank you for your faithfulness in giving us the information we need to stay updated and for the wonderful encouraging articles from those who remind us to keep looking up.
ReplyDeleteThank you Kim - thats is nice of you - and much appreciated!!Ive been slack today and need to get on it !!!
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