Ring the Bells — Shout it Loud….A Savior Has Been Born to YOU

To the terrified shepherds the angel said: “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master.” Luke 2:10,11 (The Message)

Christmas……what a beautiful season of the year. Not just because of the lights and the overall ‘feeling’ of the season, but most of all because it was the time God had planned to send His Son to be our Savior, and literally transform our world by the new life He came to plant. Christ was born.
As I read the passages again in Matthew, a number of things jumped out at me. I was reading from “The Message” translation. After listing the various generations, coming up to Jesus who was called Christ, it shows us that Jesus was a real man, who entered our human world and that god is a God of order. He is working through His plan – was then, is now. “There were 14 generations from Abraham to David, another 14 from David to the Babylonian exile, and yet another 14 from the Babylonian exile to Christ.

Then I read about Joseph. What a guy! If we could just have the faith, the courage, and the obedience to God Joseph demonstrated, wow. Engaged, discovered she was pregnant, didn’t yet know it was by Holy Spirit, didn’t want to disgrace Mary. Listened to God’s angel clarifying Mary’s situation in a dream…even receiving the name He should be given – Jesus (God Saves) and we find Joseph did “exactly” what God’s angel commanded him in the dream. “He married Mary, did not consummate the marriage until she had the baby. He named the baby Jesus.” What a God-follower!

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem village, then the scholars came from the East. During King Herod’s kingship, they had followed a star and were on pilgrimage to worship Him.
Since King Herod was threatened by Jesus, he arranged a secret meeting with the scholars from the East, who pretended to be as devout as the scholars were, and told them to “go find the child….As soon as you find Him send word and I will join you at once in your worship.” They kept following this special same star, it led them on until it hovered over the place of the child. It says, “They could hardly contain themselves: They were in the right place, at the right time!” “They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, His mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshipped Him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. In a dream, they were warned NOT to report back to Herod, so they worked out another route, left the territory without being seen, and returned to their own country.” Again, God is worked out His plan, He is in control, guiding the scholars away from Herod, protecting our Savior, so He can save us.

As you read on, it says, After the scholars were gone, God’s angel showed up again in Joseph’s dream and commanded, (remember? God’s commands are so we don’t miss His blessings) “Get up. Take the child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay until further notice. Herod is on the hunt for the child and wants to kill Him.” Then it says, Joseph obeyed. This all actually fulfilled Jeremiah’s prophecy. (Jer. 31:15) “Later, when Herod died, God’s angel appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, ’Up, Take the child and His mother and return to Israel. All those out to murder the child are dead.” Listen to the next two words: “Joseph obeyed.” (Thank you Joseph!) He was directed in a dream to go to the hills of Galilee and settle in the village of Nazareth. Aren’t you glad that God is in control and oversees the affairs of men? This Christmas season, we can re-joice …. celebrate JOY AGAIN because God is in control, working for our good and as we obey Him as Joseph we can KNOW HE HAS SPECIAL PLANS FOR EACH ONE OF OUR LIVES! “JOY TO THE WORLD THE LORD IS COME! Amen. God with us.”