December 2002

Child Conqueror Scripture Focus: Luke 1:46-55 “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel” (Genesis 3:15).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------Who could possibly hate Little Susie Who? You may remember her from the Christmas tale, How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Susie lived in Whoville, a wintry storybook town sitting just below the mountain hideout of a Grinch consumed with hate. Mr. Grinch stole all Whoville's Christmas trimmings. He stole all their tags, all their packages, boxes, and bags. By the story's end, however, the Grinch experiences a change of heart. The trimmings return and the spirit of Christmas is restored. Who could possibly hate the young mother and the Child resting in that Bethlehem stable? In Genesis, God foreshadowed the violent hatred that swirled around Jesus' birth. But Satan's hate could not steal away the salvation trimmings that would one day hang on the tree at Calvary. Satan bruised Jesus' heel, but His resurrection brought healing. Who could possibly hate you? That serpent of old, Satan. He will always hate God's people. He will never experience a change of heart. Yet we can rejoice. The manger Child conquers all hate. INSIGHT: Although hate swirls around us, our Savior conquers all hate! Rejoice, you are loved.

Talking Sheep? Scripture Focus: Psalm 23 “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. . . . Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:1, 6).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------Sheep don't talk. Long ago, a serpent did once (Genesis 3:15), and even a donkey had his say (Numbers 22:28), but sheep have been known to do little more than make noise, stink up the place, and wander down treacherous paths. In Psalm 23 the poet David looks up at his Shepherd and speaks. “I shall lack nothing,” he bleats with confidence. “I have everything I truly need.” How fitting then to open the Christmas story in Luke 2 to find shepherds keeping watch over their sheep by lamp light as the Shepherd of Psalm 23 takes human shape down the path

from their field. Without the calming influence of the shepherds, the sheep could have been scattered and ripped apart by prowling wolves. The shepherds could have missed meals or lost sleep. But not their sheep. And certainly not the sheep of God's pasture. This holiday season, you can be confident that the Shepherd cares for you and “will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). INSIGHT: As we flock to the mall for gifts to go under the tree, may we remember to thank God for shepherding us this past year.

Soul Restoration Scripture Focus: Psalm 23 “He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake” (Psalm 23:3). “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit” (Psalm 51:12).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------Dad, I'm tired of seeing you walk around the house like a zombie.” My son spoke these words during an intervention for my alcoholism. These were also the words I needed to hear to get into treatment. That was 14 years ago. Since then, the Lord has “restored my soul.” Living like a sheep without a shepherd and wandering through a personal wilderness described my drinking behavior. My son's words helped me realize that we worship the God of the second chance. “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord”(Luke 2:11). These words of the angel to the shepherds told the birth of the Good Shepherd. Jesus came as Savior to save or heal me from my sins. Later, He went to the cross for those sins and included me when He said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). INSIGHT: Whatever your sin may be, when you repent, confess, and receive Christ's forgiveness, God also restores your soul.

Life Is Difficult Scripture Focus: Isaiah 53:1-6 “He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake” (Psalm

23:3). “I will guide him and restore comfort to him” (Isaiah 57:18).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------Life is difficult.” These words begin the book, A Road Less Traveled, by M. Scott Peck. Most of us would agree. The reason life is difficult for us is that we each travel the road or path called sin. Yet, every day we have a choice. That choice is, “Do I travel the sinful path? Or do I travel the path less traveled?” God tells us that too often we go down our own sinful path. “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way” (Isaiah 53:6). “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death” (Proverbs 14:12). The good news is that the Baby born in Bethlehem is our Shepherd. He knows that the inborn bent of our hearts causes us to make wrong choices that lead to consequences that make life difficult for us. As our Shepherd, He will guide us in paths of righteousness. That path is the one less traveled. The Shepherd leads. We follow. And we find peace of heart. INSIGHT: The choice is ours today. Will we follow the crowd on the road of our natural choice? Or will be let our Shepherd guide us in His ways?

Through the Valley Scripture Focus: Psalm 57 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------Martin Luther translated the first part of today's key verse, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow.” He did not translate it “of death.” There can be other difficult things besides death in “the valley of the shadow.” For example, there can be depression and sickness in that valley and the anguish of watching a loved one as he travels through that valley. Notice that David says that he goes through the valley. So often, when we are in a valley, we want to go over, under, or around it, rather than through it. Yet we need to go through it because that's where the Good Shepherd is. There, the Good Shepherd will lead, guide, and even carry us if necessary. That's why there is no need for us to be filled with fear. “Do not be afraid,” the angel announced, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11). The Baby they found is the One who takes us through the valley of the shadow. INSIGHT: Let's focus on the great joy that Jesus brings rather than the fears that may lurk in the valley of the shadow.

The Original Christmas Tree Scripture Focus: Isaiah 6:8-13 “Though a tenth remains in the land, it will again be laid waste. But as the terebinth and oak leave stumps when they are cut down, so the holy seed will be the stump in the land” (Isaiah 6:13).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------Decorating the Christmas tree was always a great event with out family. On Thanksgiving weekend we would go to the tree farm, choose and cut own our tree, and bring it home. Everyone helped Dad anchor it in the tree stand. Mom would put on the lights, and the children hung ornaments. With great joy and Christmas carols playing in the background, we stood back to admire our work. But out in the fields we left behind an ugly stump, never thinking of it as symbolic of Isaiah's “holy seed.” Jesus came from that stump and brought beauty and life. “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse: from his roots a Branch will bear fruit” (11:1). It was always a sad day when we would take down the dead, dry Christmas tree, stripping it of its decorations. Abandoned outside, its last light came from flames that consumed it. In contrast, we can remember the original Christmas tree from Jesse's stump - Jesus, the light of the world, whose beams can never be extinguished. INSIGHT: Praise God for His Son, now and everlasting life forever.

Regaining the Miraculous Scripture Focus: Isaiah 7:10-16 “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------When I was a little boy, everything about Christmas seemed miraculous: the appearance under the tree of just the gifts I wanted, the feeling of excitement I could almost taste in the air, and even the sound of reindeer on the roof (how Grandpa got up there, I can't imagine). But as I grew older, Christmas began to lose its miraculous nature, replaced by what I thought was sophistication. Christmas has always been about the miraculous, though: angels speaking to shepherds, a star appearing in the east guiding the wise men to where the Christ-child was staying. But the

greatest miracle of all is that a virgin conceived and bore Immanuel, God with us! When I lost the miracle of God’s presence, I replaced it with frantic shopping and festivities. But that was hollow. So now I'm becoming a child again by returning to the truth of the Bible with wide eyes, seeing the miraculous simplicity of Christmas: Immanuel came to be with us. INSIGHT: The Baby in the manger was God's ultimate expression of His desire to be with us. How important that we respond by wanting to be with Him!

What's in a Name? Scripture Focus: Isaiah 9:1-7 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------A name is powerful. If you react as I do, then you didn't like the nicknames people called you as you grew up. “Hey, beanpole, how's the weather up there?” Think twice before you play with a person's name. Rather, honor that name with respect. Bible names carried great meaning and often described a person's traits. Abraham's name (“father of many”) was changed to Abram (“exalted father”), and so was his destiny. Jesus’ name is the name above all names. At His birth, He carried great credentials that listed His future roles. He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. This Child came to rule and to reign forever. Two of Jesus’ names command thoughts of strength and eternity: “Mighty God,” “Everlasting Father.” The other two names quiet our hearts with thoughts of consolation and tranquility: “Counselor” and “Peace.” All Jesus' names confidently state His position as God. INSIGHT: Some day “at the name of Jesus every knee” will bow in reverence and submission (Philippians 2:10). We can give Him that honor today.

A Shoot from a Root Scripture Focus: Isaiah 53:1-3 “He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him” (Isaiah 53:2).

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Did you know that a seemingly dead olive tree with no leaves and no branches can reproduce itself? I once saw a large stump of an olive tree with a leafy branch growing from its roots, though the ground around it was dry and barren. Isaiah’s agricultural contemporaries readily understood the meaning of “a tender shoot growing up like a root out of dry ground.” Many weren't aware, however, that Isaiah was referring to Jesus, the long-anticipated Messiah, who 700 years later would enter the world as a tender shoot - a tiny baby in a manger. Rooted in the lineage of Abraham and David, Jesus sprang up at a time when, like the olive tree, faith in God was nearly dead. The Baby Jesus was a tender shoot from a root out of dry ground. We can rejoice in the miracle of a baby who appeared in such humble surroundings. He came as servant and Savior into a dry and sinful land. He wants to spring into the void of your parched world this Christmas and give you new or renewed life. INSIGHT: Whenever you see new shoots on a plant, let that remind you of the work Jesus does in the dry ground of our souls.

The Whole Christmas Story Scripture Focus: John 1:29-34 “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not” (Isaiah 53:3).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------Great anticipation and high hope surround the birth of a baby. This was most certainly the case as Mary and Joseph viewed their tiny newborn Son. While Mother was taking in all the details for her mental scrapbook, Dad was perhaps envisioning the first hammer he would place in his grip. There was another interested party who had both the beginning and the end in sight. God the Father knew that His Son was destined for a cross. Among the titles His Son was to collect were Suffering Servant, Sacrificial Lamb, and Man of Sorrows. The contrast is almost too much to comprehend. Jesus' disciples certainly struggled with it: How could our hope of salvation be headed for crucifixion? Still today, when we look at a manger scene, it is hard to envision this same Child being forced to wear a crown of thorns. At Christmas we celebrate the new life and hope that rests in the manger at Bethlehem. But without the cross of Easter, the wonderful expectancy of Christmas offers no abiding life,

hope, or joy. INSIGHT: This Christmas, celebrate the birth of Jesus for all that it means. He is both a King deserving of praise and a Servant willing to die for us.

Out of Egypt Scripture Focus: Hosea 11:1-7 “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son” (Hosea 11:1). “He brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you . . . from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt” (Deuteronomy 7:8).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------When I saw the film Out of Africa several years ago, the beauty in that film caused me to fall in love with that great continent. Though people have wondered at times if anyone remarkable could come out of Egypt, an African nation, the prophet Hosea predicted that Someone extremely good would come from there. Hosea warned Israel of God’s impending judgment for their idolatry. But he also gave Israel reason for hope: “Out of Egypt I called my son.” This prophecy has two meanings. First, it refers to Jacob as well as his descendants enslaved in Egypt. God brought that young nation (child) out of Egypt. Second, Hosea described Jesus the Messiah, who 1400 years later came out of Egypt as a child (Matthew 2:19-21). His parents had been instructed by God to hide Jesus there until Herod's death. God brought the people of Israel out of Egypt to rescue them physically. He brought Jesus out of Egypt to rescue us spiritually. INSIGHT: Our great God had Jesus' birth, life, death, and resurrection planned long before He created us. This Christmas thank Him for rescuing you.

Bread of Life Scripture Focus: Micah 5:1-5 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel” (Micah 5:2).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------All who experience war know the thrill and excitement when the leader arrives to rally the troops, whether General MacArthur, General Eisenhower, General Schwartzkopf, or Secretary

of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. Leaders bring hope to a trying situation. In Micah’s day, the occupation appeared certain for the city of Jerusalem - a siege was coming. But Bethlehem looked to a different prophetic future. Translated “house of bread,” Bethlehem had a bun in the oven, a leader who would some day be ruler over Israel. His foretold birth would become reality centuries later. Yet his origins were from of old. O Little Town of Bethlehem, where our Savior's birth changed history. First, Jesus' birth and then our new birth as we embrace the miracle of His provided salvation. The little Baby in a little town with a big message of hope. He came for you and me to be our Bread of Life. INSIGHT: God knew from eternity past that He would send His Son for you and me. That gives us hope for the future.

Jesus' Grandmothers Scripture Focus: 2 Timothy 1:3-9 “A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ . . . Salmon [was] the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth” (Matthew 1:1, 5).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------We know Baby Jesus had a mother named Mary. But do we remember that Jesus had many great grandmothers as well? We know some of them by name because we find them in Jesus' family tree recorded in Matthew 1. Grandma Rahab worked as a prostitute (Joshua 6:25) and Grandma Ruth was a Moabitess (Ruth 1:22), or in other words, a foreigner, an outcast, a misfit. But God didn’t look at their past and say, “Sorry, ladies, you don't measure up. I need to find perfect grandmothers for my Baby.” If that were the case, then Jesus would never have made it to Bethlehem. Yet He did. He was born into an entire family of imperfect people. How good to know that God isn’t looking for a perfect resume when choosing His family! Even today God looks for imperfect grandchildren to carry on His family name. Do you have a regrettable past, like Rahab? Have you been shunned or mistreated like Ruth? Then you should feel right at home in the family of God. INSIGHT: Regardless of your past, God wants you in His family tree - even imperfect grandmothers.

The Purpose of Jesus' Birth

Scripture Focus: Luke 19:1-10 “Jesus said to him, `Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:9-10).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------How can people miss the purpose of Jesus' coming? He told us in words so clear and simple that even a young child can understand. For example, Jesus spoke simply to Zaccheus, a tax collector, the most despised profession in Israel. Tax collectors worked as contractors for Rome, which occupied Israel, and exacted heavy taxes. Tax collectors kept whatever they garnered above the amount they agreed to pay Rome. They earned their salaries by cheating their own people. When Jesus spoke of salvation to one of that despised class of traitors, He knew His Jewish listeners would misunderstand and possibly accuse Him. So He told them in simplest terms that He had come “to seek and to save what was lost,” including the most despised rejects of that human race. That includes us. We may not consider ourselves despised rejects, but in the light of God's holiness, we fare no better than Zaccheus in the eyes of Jewish pride. But just as Jesus came to seek and to save Zaccheus, He came to seek and to save each of us. INSIGHT: Jesus revealed His purpose in coming in the clearest terms - He came to find each of us, even though unworthy, and deliver us from the result of our sin.

The Word Became Flesh Scripture Focus: John 1:1-14 “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------Years ago I had a motorcycle accident, breaking six bones in my body. It made me realize how fragile our flesh really is. Why then, I wondered, would Jesus the Word come to earth in the flesh? Why would our great God stoop so low as to become a mere flesh and blood human being? John purposely used the word flesh to combat a false teaching, which claimed that the Son of God was not truly human but merely seemed human. Obviously, Jesus didn’t just come in the flesh as a grown man. The awesome Creator of all came in the most humble way possible as a tiny baby.

The Son of God left His throne to live a perfect life among us, to teach us how to behave and to sacrifice Himself for our sins so we might receive eternal life. He came to earth to serve, filled with grace and truth, so that He might ultimately show us the glory of the Father who sent Him. As you exchange gifts this Christmas, remember that all God's majesty is wrapped up in that fleshly little bundle called Jesus. INSIGHT: Before Jesus came, people could know God only partially. After Jesus came, they could know God fully because Jesus' flesh was visible and tangible.

Descending into Greatness Scripture Focus: John 3:16-18 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son. . . . For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:16-17).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------Some time ago, a popular magazine interviewed a man whose son has become very famous. The man exalted his son to heights unknown by saying, “My son will impact the world more than anyone who has ever lived. He will be the bridge between the East and the West. He is the chosen one and the world is just starting to get a taste of his power.” The man? Earl Woods. The son? A young man named Tiger. I appreciate a good game of golf and I certainly enjoy watching Tiger hit the little white ball, but please. We are talking here about a mere human, not the Messiah! The real Chosen One could have come into our world to do anything He wanted. He could have elected to be a Bill Gates, a Tom Cruise, a George W. Bush, or even a golfer greater than Tiger. But He sacrificed His glory for ours. Jesus desired all of humanity to experience the joy of salvation. As we celebrate the birth of the Savior, let us remember why He came. Jesus Christ came not to judge - but to save. INSIGHT: If Jesus gave up His rights to serve us, how much more should we give up ours to serve others?

What Does God Require? Scripture Focus: John 6:25-40 “Then they asked him, `What must we do to do the works God requires?' Jesus answered, `The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent'“ (John 6:28-29).

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Sadly, Christmas can be a time of strenuous, self-imposed pressure. Worry plagues us: Have I purchased enough gifts? Have I forgotten anyone? Do I have enough food when guests arrive? How much is enough? People asked Jesus a simple question: “What must we do to do the works God requires?” (John 6:28) What kinds of works are these, and have you done enough of them to please God? At life's end, how will you know how much is enough? Our Lord’s answer can be paraphrased in this way: “Believe in Christmas!” That is, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent” (v. 29). The pressure is off. The Savior has come. Though God has prepared good works for us to do (Ephesians 2:10), those works are a response to God's grace, not the cause of His grace. The Gospel is not about what you have done for God; it is about what God has done for you. If you have believed in Jesus, whom God graciously sent, you have already done the work that God ultimately requires. INSIGHT: For those of us who are performance and production oriented, Jesus reminds us that the only work that we must do is to believe in Jesus. Rest in this glorious truth!

Letting Go Scripture Focus: Philippians 2:6-7 “I came from the Father and entered the world” (John 16:28). “I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me” (John 6:38).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------Honey, I think it's about time we got rid of some of this stuff in our basement.” “Yes, dear, as soon as you clear out half the junk in the garage.” My wife and I have this conversation, or one close to it, on what seems to be a regular basis. At other times our thoughts turn to more dramatic downsizing. How could I get by without my car? Could we live with half our current square footage? Though we may entertain these notions, few of us freely let go of what we have collected around us. We enjoy them far too much to think the streamlined benefits would outweigh our losses. Jesus Christ, on the other hand, had it all - and gave it all up to enter our world. In His Father's presence He had untold power and glory and riches. Yet He left it all behind, emptying Himself so that He could personally demonstrate His love for us. We can never match His sacrificial gift. But as we present our Christmas gifts to those we

love, may our hearts be filled with wonder and thanks for the Savior who left it all behind. INSIGHT: No one has ever given us a gift more costly than the one presented from Bethlehem's barn. Remembering this truth, may we each offer our gifts with a willing and joyful heart.

Jesus Our Righteousness Scripture Focus: Romans 5:19-20 “For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous” (Romans 5:19).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------I know I am forgiven, but I still have this nagging sense that I don't measure up. God sent Jesus to be my Savior, but what a struggle it is to live a life that is pleasing to Him. Sound familiar? Christmas is the time we celebrate the birth of our Savior. It should also be the time we celebrate the birth of our Righteousness. In our text, Paul contrasts our first representative, Adam, with our second representative, Jesus. Through the disobedience of the first Adam, “the many were made sinners” (v. 19). But gloriously, through the perfect obedience of Jesus, we who are in Christ are now considered righteous. Jesus came to perfectly and completely obey God's Law. When we place our faith in Him, all our sins are credited to Him, and all His righteousness is credited to us (Romans 4). When God looks at me, even on my worst day, He sees me as righteous and fully acceptable to Him. Jesus not only died the death I should have died, He lived the life I should have lived. This makes the celebration of Christmas truly merry, don't you think? INSIGHT: God desires my obedience, but my acts of obedience are not deposits in my righteousness account. Through Jesus, my account is already full. He is my righteousness.

The Gift of Life Scripture Focus: John 4:1-14 “Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14).”The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------Think back to the best gift you ever received during the Christmas celebration. For many people, it was that first bicycle, or doll, or wagon. It was probably something that you desired

with your whole being and which you had waited for quite some time. Somehow you knew that your life would be different once you got your hands on that coveted dream-come-true. Maybe you still have that train set, or ride your Schwin Varsity, as I do mine. But in all likelihood your special present has lost some of its pizzazz. And why is that? Because from the moment you tore off the bow and packaging, it possessed no ability to give life. Yes, excitement maybe, but not life itself. The greatest gift ever offered comes from God and is made available to us through His Son. The life we receive through Christ isn't a gift that will fall apart or become lost. It's the one gift that will continue to satisfy us forever. INSIGHT: This Christmas let's focus on the greatest gift ever given - the gift of life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Adoption Scripture Focus: Galatians 4:4-7 “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons” (Galatians 4:4-5).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------Twenty years ago, God led my wife and I to adopt an infant boy from an orphanage in Korea. The adoption was at our initiative, costly, and rescued our son from being an orphan. God sent His Son that we might be adopted. Our adoption into God's family was at His initiative, all of grace. It was costly. On the cross as a payment for our sins, Jesus was forsaken - orphaned - by His Father. He rescued us from a spiritual orphanage and an eternal death. As long as we are on this planet, we have only three options in life regarding how we view ourselves. We can let others define us, we can define ourselves, or we can let God define us. The first two options inevitably lead to pride or shame. The last and best option is to see ourselves as adopted children of our Heavenly Father. This produces real humility and joyful praise. It can never be added to nor taken from. What a Christmas present! Jesus was born on earth that we might be adopted in heaven. INSIGHT: God sent His Son to become an orphan on the cross, that we as orphans might be graciously adopted into His family - and now be identified as His sons and daughters.

Peace on Earth Scripture Focus:

Ephesians 2:17-18 “He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near” (Ephesians 2:17). “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you” (John 14:27).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------In just a few days, the bells of churches all over the world will ring on Christmas Eve, celebrating the birth of Jesus. People will sing about peace on earth and good will toward men. But is that reality? Every day people kill one another trying to achieve some hateful end. There is little peace on earth. Jesus Himself said, “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword” (Matthew 10:34). Do we have a contradiction here? No. God's Son came to bring peace between us and God; peace among the human race will not be achieved until sin is done away with. And that is yet to come. Do you remember the peace and quiet of taking a walk on a winter's night, the ground covered with snow and every sound muffled by the white blanket? This pictures the relationship we have with God because of the coming of His Son - Jesus' sacrifice has quieted our personal worlds. All is peaceful, all is bright within because He came. INSIGHT: Thank Jesus for ushering in peace between us and God. Where would we be without the quiet of a relationship with God?

The Real Christmas Story Scripture Focus: Philippians 2:1-11 “Who, being in very nature God . . . made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness” (Philippians 2:6-7).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------When did the Christmas story begin? We think of the familiar scene of the baby Jesus lying in a manger surrounded by animals and shepherds. But that image depicts the middle of the great incarnation saga. Devised by God before the creation of the world, the real Christmas story began long before the Bethlehem setting. From eternity past Christ existed as deity equal to the Father and the Spirit. Every trait the Father and the Spirit possessed, Christ possessed and displayed as they did. As God, that was His right. But He did not demand to hold on to the full and independent expression of His deity. He willingly and joyfully gave it up. He set aside the independent use of His deity and the full expression of His glory by demoting Himself. While still maintaining He deity, He became a servant. That surrender of rights required a degree of humility beyond our understanding. The Baby in the Christmas manger is the God of the universe, who practices such humility that He

became one of us. INSIGHT: How well do we reflect Christ's humility? Do we demand to hold on to and exercise our rights, or do we willingly set them aside to serve others?

A King's Obedience Scripture Focus: Philippians 2:5-8 “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------In the eleventh century, King Henry III of Bavaria grew tired of the stress of being a monarch and decided to spend the rest of his life in a monastery. When he applied, one of the monks asked him, “Your majesty, do you understand that the pledge here is one of obedience? That will be hard because you have been a king.” But Henry made the vow. And the clever monk gave the king his first command: “Go back to your throne and serve faithfully in the place God has put you.” Jesus too was a king willing to be obedient. He became a man, knowing that He would have to endure a horrifying death on a cross. For Him, loving God meant doing what God commanded. The Scriptures often remind us that love and obedience are inseparable. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey what I command” (John 14:15). Are you willing to demonstrate your love for God by being obedient - even if it means staying in a difficult circumstance? INSIGHT: Becoming like Christ means obeying God, no matter the cost. Is there an area of your life in which you need to demonstrate obedience?

Taking a Break Scripture Focus: Colossians 1:15-20 “For by him all things were created . . . all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:16-17).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------Christmas - the busiest time of year. With our schedules already overflowing with work, family, and the normal routine of life, we add shopping, office parties, special family gatherings, an extra church service or two, and we soon exceed our limits. Christ's busyness exceeded ours

at the first Christmas. Like us, His schedule was already full before He entered our world. Paul wrote the Colossian Christians to warn them about an ancient cult threatening their church. In response to their denying Christ's sufficiency, Paul taught the full deity of Christ. He existed long before the first Christmas. As the pre-incarnate Son of God, He always existed. His busyness centered around holding together His universe that He had made in the distant past. Yet, while still maintaining the universe, He joined our earthly rat race. Despite His ongoing responsibilities, He provided our salvation, starting with becoming one of us. As God, He could add to His schedule without diminishing Christmas. But we cannot. INSIGHT: Does our busyness prevent us from slowing down and considering what Christ did? Let's take a break to contemplate Christ and His work in making Christmas.

Jesus: The Real Deal Scripture Focus: Hebrews 1:1-3 “He has spoken to us by his Son. . . . The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word” (Hebrews 1:2-3).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------The room was packed with federal agents. Instead of the normal buzz, it was perfectly quiet. Each agent used a magnifying glass to study with intensity. A visitor approached to ask one, “Looks like you're examining counterfeit dollar bills?” “Nope,” he shot back. “These are the real McCoys.” The visitor responded, “Why memorize the details of real bills when you're trying to catch the fake ones?” The answer came instantly. “We can spot the bogus bills because they don't match up to the authentic ones.” Every generation has counterfeit religions and teachers who lead them astray. Someone claims to be Messiah, but is just as phony as funny money. God has “spoken to us by His Son.” Is Jesus the real deal? Get your microscope out and study the person of Christ. Why? Because “He is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His being.” Don't waste time examining the copies. Fix your eyes on the genuine article. If you want to know the one true God, look at Jesus. INSIGHT: Just as the Son radiates the Father, we are to radiate the Son. Let Him shine through you this season.

Those Strange Angels! Scripture Focus:

Luke 2:8-14 “When God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, `Let all God's angels worship him'“ (Hebrews 1:6). “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God” (Luke 2:13).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------Angels are strange creatures. We know little about them. They seem greater than humans. After all, anyone flying around the universe from heaven to earth should amaze us. But at the same time, they don't seem very friendly. Who can say his best buddy is an angel? One thing is certain about God’s strange angels: They are smart. When the Father brought the Son into this world, He uttered the command for all His angels to worship Jesus. They obeyed because they wanted to. We do not know exactly how many angels God has, but their number is huge. And all of them worshiped Jesus. At Christmas time we too must learn this same truth: Jesus deserves our worship. Today's passage gives only one reason: Jesus has come. Have you paused to tell the Father and the Son how grateful you are for Jesus' coming? Have you expressed your amazement at this greatest of deeds? When we do so, we join the huge company of angels who worship Him. INSIGHT: As the angels worshiped Jesus at His birth, so let us worship Him as we remember His coming.

Heaven's First Christmas Scripture Focus: Hebrews 10:5-10 “Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: `Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me. . . . Then I said, “Here I am”’” (Hebrews 10:5-7).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------How do movies create their special effects? Do you remember the first time you saw a burning city or one thrown into chaos by an earthquake? Both the close-up and panoramic scenes ebbed with realism. You almost felt the heat and tremors. Of course, we now know that Hollywood builds a miniature of the real thing. A viewer cannot tell that a model was being filmed, not the city itself. We love to uncover such secrets. But what if God took you behind the scenes? Did you know God did give us a behind-the-scenes glimpse of Christmas? At the moment of Jesus' conception, He spoke to the Father. He acknowledged that the Father did not desire an animal sacrifice. Rather, He proclaimed what the Father gave Him - a human body.

But do not miss the reason why the Father did this. The Son needed a body to suffer and die as a sacrifice for our sins. This describes God's purpose in sending His Son. It expresses His great love and care for us. He did everything needed to remove our sin. Thanks be to God! INSIGHT: At conception the Father gave Jesus a body so that at the cross He could become our Savior.

The Confusing Value of a Gift Scripture Focus: 1 John 4:7-11 “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us” (1 John 4:9-10).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------Gifts are sometimes confusing. Some gifts cost very little, but we value them highly, whereas a costly gift can fail to benefit or move us. Many of my children's gifts fall into the first category. Over the years they have given me handmade cards for special occasions. I treasure them and have kept them for decades. However, I received an expensive gift some years ago from a person who sought to buy my support. Though costly, it meant nothing to me and was eventually returned to the giver. God is the greatest gift-giver. He not only gave that which was most costly, but also that which produced the greatest benefit. He sent His Son into the world. This act sprang from God's heart of love and revealed the depth of His commitment to us. But the benefit proved equally marvelous. Since Jesus came, we now live through Him. That is, He loved us so that we can experience His life. Every day we can walk in relationship with the living God because of the gift of His Son - the greatest gift coupled with the greatest benefit. INSIGHT: God gave the greatest gift, His Son, so that now we can enjoy the greatest benefit, His life.

The Ultimate Christmas Scripture Focus: Revelation 4:1-11 “Day and night they never stop saying: `Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come'“ (Revelation 4:8).

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When I was young, I used to get up early in the morning and look across the living room at the Christmas tree and anticipate Santa's coming. How I wanted him to come so I could see him face to face. Is it so different with our anticipation of Christ's second coming? Every Christmas we wait and celebrate His first coming. But the ultimate Christmas looms on the horizon. We are reminded in the Book of Revelation that God owns the deed to the universe and someday, perhaps very soon, He will present that deed. The Babe in the manger will give way to the Messiah on the throne. Our songs of Silent Night and O Little Town of Bethlehem will fade away, melodiously exchanged for “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” We rejoice at the thought of the great unfolding of eternity. Whatever else Christmas brings to mind, remember that He came before and He is coming again to the praise and glory of all the saints. INSIGHT: He who came once is just as certain to come again. Rejoice that your name is written in heaven.

Jesus: More Than A Baby Scripture Focus: Revelation 19:13-16 “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. . . .On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:11,16).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------Many of us try to keep Jesus in the manger and not allow Him to grow up. He's so cute and cuddly there next to the animals with Mary and Joseph looking on. Certainly this humble little Babe would never bring judgment on anyone! Revelation 19 powerfully describes Jesus returning to earth on a white horse with His robe dipped in blood, eyes flaming, and a sword in His mouth. Why? To “strike down the nations and rule them with an iron scepter” (v. 15). That doesn’t sound like something Baby Jesus would do, does it? It does, if we understand that He grew up, died, rose from the grave, and then promised to come back and forever reign. On that day He will proclaim Himself King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Let’s definitely adore the infant in the crib this season, but let's not forget to esteem Him for who He really is: the returning and conquering Ruler of the universe - and of our lives. We can offer Him our full allegiance.

INSIGHT: Worshiping the Son of Mary at Christmas time requires us to worship the Son of God at all times.