Merry Christmas everyone. The wonder of Christmas is that Jesus Christ the Lord stooped to be born as a humble baby in a lowly manger. My wish is for everyone to take time this Christmas and stop to contemplate the wonder and be moved enough to truly worship our dear Savior.
I recently received a new study Bible that I plan to review in the near future. I turned to it this morning and found some encouraging words in the “Thoughts for Personal/Family Worship” following Luke chapter 2. The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible (RHB, 2014) had these poignant thoughts that I leave with my readers this Christmas:
1. As we read about the birth of Christ, many focus on the shepherds and angels. Certainly there are many lessons in what we are told about them and in what they did. Most important, however, is what Christ Himself did in His birth: He came to this lost world to be a Savior. Equally important is what God the Father did in the birth of His Son. He sent His Son in order to glorify Himself in the salvation of lost and miserable sinners like these shepherds. Reflect upon how low God stooped by sending His Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin (Rom. 8:3). Why was it necessary for the Lord to come in such humiliation as to lie in a manger rather than in a king’s crib? What does this foreshadow about the manner in which Christ would save sinners?
2. When Jesus was born the angels of God sang “Glory to God in the highest,” and the shepherds were glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. Godly old Simeon was moved by the Holy Spirit to give public praise to God, and faithful Anna thanked the Lord and told many of the birth of the Redeemer. Why should Christ’s coming move Christians to sing and praise God? If our hearts are cold and sluggish to worship, what might this reveal about us? (pg. 1457)
Pick up a copy of this book at Amazon or Westminster Books.
Another year, another 12 Days Before Christmas Book Giveaway. Last year I was privileged to cohost this giveaway with my friend and fellow-blogger Shaun Tabatt. This year, Shaun continues the tradition on his own, but with even more prizes than ever.
