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Earlier this week we witnessed a beautiful part of the Christmas story. In the midst of confusion and shock the angel comforts Joseph regarding the baby that Mary was going to have (Matt 1:21). A baby that is not his but that he is supposed to love and raise as his own. He also gives Joseph the name that they are to call this child.

Jesus!

It’s a beautiful name because it reveals what this child would one day do. He would save His people from their sins.

Beautiful! But it also requires of us that we never study the Christmas account without also looking at the cross. The birth of Jesus would mean nothing if He hadn’t died. Jesus did not grow up and later in life decide that He would suffer and lose his life on a cross like a hated criminal. This was the plan from the VERY beginning (Gen 3, Isa. 53, Acts 2:23).

In our verse for today we see the radical love of God. He held nothing back – not even His only beloved son.

Salvation is not an idea, a mindset, or a way of life. It is not a work or even religious activities. Salvation is a person.

Jesus was born to save but salvation carried with it a massive price tag. He loved, healed and taught in order to show those around Him, and us now, that HE is that salvation.

He was born for you! He let Himself be hung on the cross for you!

God the father gave His only beloved son, and the son willingly gave Himself for us. I’m not sure we will ever truly understand the heinousness of what we once were, and the overwhelming affection of God who loved us anyway.

Christmas is a time of celebration. We celebrate the birth of a child. In our home we decorate as for a King. We sing and worship the greatness of God who took on flesh. We exchange gifts as a small reminder of the generosity that God has poured out on us.

In the midst of our Christmas celebrations we must also keep an eye on the cross. It is our sin that required us to need a savior, and it was the Father’s love that sent His son to be that savior for us.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Our celebrations must include joy that Jesus was born, sadness that our sin had such a great price, and joy again because God became man and took upon Himself a name that would mean pain, suffering and a grueling death.

Jesus is the overcomer, the redeemer, and the savior of His people. How wonderful that we get to take time every year to remember this beautiful truth that Jesus was born to save His people from their sins!

For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,​ so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, a​nd that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Phil 2:9­-11

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas,
jen-sig

 

 

 

Friends, we are SO EXCITED about our next study – Growing Through Prayer beginning January 11!!  Please share this image on social media so we can reach as many women as possible!  Watch our blog and social media for additional details leading up to the study launch — we can’t wait to start 2016 with you!!

Growing Through Prayer

 

Jen Thorn

Jen Thorn

Jen Thorn grew up in Germany and then spent her teenage years in Africa, where her parents were missionaries. She moved to the United States for college and attended Moody Bible Institute in Chicago where she met her husband. They have been married for twenty-two years and have four children. Jen lives in the suburbs of Chicago, where her husband is the pastor of Redeemer Fellowship. Jen is passionate about theology and the connection to daily living.

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