Good morning…
I just experienced a surprise blessing. In the midst of my quiet time, God coaxed me to read the beginning of each of the four gospels (Matthew 1:18-25, Mark 1:1-11, Luke 2:1-7, John 1:1-18). Melting together all of these accounts, these words shimmer for me this Christmas morning.
What is conceived is from the Holy Spirit. Give this child the name Jesus because he will save us from our sins. Call him also Immanuel which means “God IS with us.” A voice from heaven appeared, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. In him was life, the true light that gives life to all people. God’s light shines in our darkness and darkness cannot understand it, cannot overcome it, cannot extinguish it, ever. All who receive this life-giving Savior become newborn children of God – not by natural descent, not by human decision, not by a loved-one’s will, but true believers are born by God. The Word (Christ) was God and was with God from the very beginning of time. On that first Christmas morn, God wrapped his Son in the skin of a baby and Jesus became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and full of truth. Earlier, the law had been given through Moses. In the fullness of time, God’s grace and God’s truth came to us personally through Jesus Christ.
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
he came and set his people free.
He set the power of salvation in the center of our lives (Luke 1:67, MSG).
…Sue…
