MIRACULOUS GIFT
Matthew 1:18-25
Vv. 20-21“…Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save the people from their sins.” Blue font are words from an angel of the Lord.
The Christmas story, recorded in Matthew and Luke, is the most familiar story in the Bible. Jesus’ birth is often the Bible’s favorite story—rightly so—because it speaks of the most Miraculous Gift ever given. Let’s never gloss over the story just because we’ve heard it so often. The Christmas story deserves full attention every time we hear it, because it’s the Father’s miraculous gift of salvation to a fallen people.
This familiar deserves attention because it contains hidden clues about how to achieve victory in our own lives. Notice that Mary surrendered herself to the Lord for His purpose, although it caused her confusion and ridicule (RID-e-kule means mockery and scorn). Joseph surrendered himself to the Lord for His purpose, even though he became the laughing stock of a small town. The shepherds surrendered themselves to the Lord for His purpose, and walked to Bethlehem to discover the miraculous gift. The Wise Men surrendered themselves to the Lord for His purpose, and followed a star that led them to the miraculous gift.
Jesus surrendered Himself to the Lord for His purpose—and died a torturous death on the cross—presenting us His shed blood as the miraculous gift. Only Jesus knew the outcome of these surrendered lives. Everyone else was delightfully surprised. Each one took the step of faith by surrendering lives to the Lord for His purpose, and achieved profound (pro-FOUND means intense or extreme) victory.
The Miraculous Gift of God’s Son Jesus—and that belief in Him achieves everlasting life—is a profound delight that shouldn’t surprise believers. The gift of faith is what we all believe and stand firmly upon. Faith is a miracle, too.
What gifts are you presenting to loved ones this Christmas?
Take Home Nugget
The nugget today is the “surrender ourselves to the Lord for His purpose” clue that achieves victory in our own lives. The outcome is never anything we know. But the Christmas story shows us that the result of a surrendered life to the Lord for His purpose guarantees victory and delight. Faith never knows where it’s being led, but loves the One Who’s leading.
J.D. Griffith
To follow the leading of God,
To step out in faith and obey,
Is always the path we should take
Whenever we can’t see the way.
Sper
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL BELIEVERS IN THE WORLD!
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