Isaiah 7:14 (KJV)
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall
conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
A Sign from the Lord Himself:
• A virgin shall conceive
• She shall bear a son
• She shall call his name Immanuel
What we have here is a Biblical description of a miraculous, visible transaction between God and man. I wholly appreciate this scripture verse because it was Divinely intended to prove to mankind how plain and simple the Lord makes the way of salvation for mankind. Neither does God deliberately complicate His will or cloud His intentions for the lives of those His children. He loves us! Yet, as human beings we are so distracted by other things that we overlook the extreme clarity and deep love that exists within the character of our heavenly Father, and thereby miss the simplicity of Christ! Do you understand what a sign is, ladies? A sign is a token; something by which another thing is shown or represented; any visible thing; any motion, appearance or event that indicates the existence or approach of something else. Yes, this scripture verse depicts the loving, clear approach the Lord has made toward the human race - toward YOU! During the hustle and bustle of Christmas, why not take some time to sit down and heartily reflect upon the scripture texts that are often read and sung about during this season. Behold them… It will "simply" overwhelm you when you do!
Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government
shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor,
The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Unto us a child is born - life was sent. Unto us a son is given - relationship is possible. Yes, this precious gift of eternal life and the ability to have a personal relationship with the Lord was given UNTO US in Jesus Christ! How exciting it is when we finally comprehend the reality of the God of Heaven reaching down to bless the likes of us! I am reminded of the numerous gifts parents bestow upon their children at Christmas, ardently embraced at first, and then slowly forgotten as the days go by. Likewise, Christians are also guilty of neglecting the holy gift of God; of forgetting Jesus since the day we received Him into our hearts as Savior. What a marvelous gift package Christ is for us - He is Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace - all rolled into One! What more could we possibly need in life? And yet, many of God's people are chasing after lesser gifts when they already possess the best there is!
Luke 1:31 (KJV)
And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and
shalt call his name Jesus.
As I ponder this Christmas verse, I am reminded of the necessity of obedience to God - a topic we must all frequently consider… Just as the Lord gave Mary explicit instructions in naming her baby, you and I have also been given clear commands to follow. They are not options; they are not there in the Bible for us to obey if we feel like it, or if the majority of people are “doing it”. No, ALL of God's instructions (minor and major) are to be respected and obeyed! Does the Word of God guide all you do? One cannot truly enjoy celebrating the birth of Christ when they are not living in a Christ-like fashion the rest of the year! Christmas is not a date on the calendar; it’s a state of mind… Praise the Lord that Mary did as she was told and named the child Jesus as God commanded, for it is a name that has brought many people peace, comfort, and joy! Mary knew that Jesus was not given just to her - He was given to ALL of us…
Acts 4:12 (KJV)
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name
under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
How many times has the name of Jesus refreshed your fainting spirit this past year, dear lady?
Christmas is based on an exchange of gifts; what have you given your Creator in return for His sacrifice? Perhaps this Christmas you need to sit down and consider your obedience to God, making sure that Jesus is Lord of your life.
John 1:14 (KJV)
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory,
the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Here is a Christmas verse that challenges me to consider WHO I am glorifying most – God or me! Ladies, when we receive the Word of God and truly believe it, we cannot help but live by it. That means we’ll willingly part with our sin and radiate the power of God and the light of Christ. Are you having any problems in this area? When we live by the Bible, folks cannot help but behold HIS glory, for He IS the Word. Consider today how much of Jesus is seen in you… Being a believer should affect our lives for HIS glory! Have you taken Christ’s nature upon you; does He reign over your affairs? If your life is not God honoring, then no doubt you are not honoring the Word of God by spending consistent time reading and heeding the scriptures. Psalm 119:11 says it perfectly, "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." Take a peek at your heart - are you full of grace and truth, dear lady? Or are you full of pride this Christmas?
In closing, there are many other “Christmas” texts we could mull over together, but I want to leave some for you to ponder on your own. I hope you'll set aside some time to do so. Let the Lord speak plain and simple things to your heart…There's no better way to create a truly HAPPY holiday!
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2001 Pamela A. Iannello
Revised 2004
