Oh, to be sensitive and anticipating Christmas coming!
Mary heard and knew Christmas coming:
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. …” Luke 1:26-27
And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” Luke 1:31-33
And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.” Luke 1:35
Mary honored Christmas coming:
And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. Luke 1:38
Joseph became aware of and honored his vows for Christmas coming:
… an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:20b-21
When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called His name Jesus. Matthew 1:24-25
Elizabeth felt Christmas coming:
And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! Luke 1:41-42
John recognized Christmas coming…from the womb:
…the baby leaped in her womb. Luke 1:41
Zacharias prophesied Christmas coming:
for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways,
to give knowledge of salvation to His people
in the forgiveness of their sins,
because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:76-79
The shepherds saw, heard, and believed Christmas coming:
And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:9-12
The angels rejoiced for Christmas coming:
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!” Luke 2:13
Simeon awaited Christmas coming:
And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Luke 2:26
“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen Your Salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel.” Luke 2:29-32
And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” Luke 2:34-35
Anna, the prophetess waited, was sensitive to, and then praised Christmas coming:
And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of Him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. Luke 2:38
The wise men saw Christmas coming:
“For we saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him.” Matthew 2:2b
Prophets prophesied Christmas coming:
Micah – But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. Micah 5:2
Ezekiel – And I will set up over them one Shepherd, My servant David, and He shall feed them: He shall feed them and be their Shepherd. Ezekiel 34:23
Hosea – “Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; His going out is sure as the dawn; He will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.” Hosea 6:3
Isaiah – Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14
Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nation, the servant of rulers: “Kings shall see and arise; princes, and they shall prostrate themselves; because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.” Isaiah 49:7
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
Christmas coming:
- in a manger over 2000 years ago
- in Salvation
- in Grace
- in Truth
- in the Word
- in a cloud
- in my heart each day
- in the praises of His people
Thank You, Heavenly Father, for blessing us with Your One and Only Son. Thank You for opening the eyes of my heart to truly see Christmas coming. May I be sensitive to Christ coming, the Holy Spirit within me forever teaching me, praying for me, loving me. May we each take the time to ponder the Truth of Christmas. May we each treasure the beauty of Your gift to us. The Son of Righteousness has come to us, to me. He is the absolute expression of Your Love to us. He is our King. He is our Shepherd. He is our LORD. He is the innocence of the Babe in the manger. He is Birth in me, Rebirth in me. He is Forgiveness. He is Love. He is Salvation. I thank You, Father, for Your Son… for Christmas Coming. Amen and Amen. Selah…
Filed under: Devotionals, God's Word, Pondering Tagged: Christ, Christmas, expectant, faith, glorify, God, gratitude, hope, Jesus, LORD, Names of Jesus, redemption, salvation, Shepherd, The Word, Truth, waiting
