Friday, December 14, 2018

Celebrating the Newborn King


Many people have regular Advent observances from the non-religious little hidey-hole chocolate calendars to various highly regarded practices of faith. In our house we have the tree, the lights (inside and out), the decorations and yes, even the little chocolate calendar. I think we even have a construction paper ring in one of our children’s rooms. But we also have the 3 nativity sets (including a toy one) and an Advent quilt that my wife’s sister made for us. When I received it, I took the time to select Bible verses for us to read each day, beginning with the prophecy of Isaiah. But my favorite calendar day is December 4th which is our only daughter Elizabeth Joy’s birthday. We started our reading in 2003, but in 2006 with her birth that day’s reading became extra special because of what we read.

“And she [Elizabeth] cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.”” (Luke 1:42–45, NASB)

The unborn child John (the Baptist) recognized even in the womb that the Savior of the world was soon to be born, and he responded with joy. The circumstances of Jesus’ birth were foretold in prophecy hundreds of years before. This was God’s way of introducing His Son to us, and now we not only remember His birth but also His death and resurrection that results in His great gift to us of forgiveness and life.

How special is the babe of Christmas to you?

Posted in Sherman County eNews Spiritual Matters on December 14, 2018

No comments: