As I thought about a devotional message relating to Christmas, I realized I could not improve on what the Holy Spirit lead Matthew, Luke, John, and the apostle Paul to write:

In the beginning was the One who is called the Word. The Word was with God and was truly God. The Word became a human being and lived here with us. We saw his true glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father. From him all the grace and all the truth of God have come down to us.

This is how Jesus Christ was born. A young woman named Mary was engaged to Joseph who was from King David’s family. But before they were married, an angel told her that she was going to have a baby by God’s Holy Spirit. Joseph was a good man and did not want to embarrass Mary in front of everyone, so he decided to quietly call off the wedding.

While Joseph was thinking about this, an angel from the Lord came to him in a dream. The angel said, “Joseph, the baby that Mary will have is from the Holy Spirit, go ahead and marry her. Then after the baby is born, name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Joseph took Mary as his wife just as the angel of the Lord had told him to do, but they did not sleep together before her baby was born.

Jesus’ birth took place during the time that Joseph and Mary had gone from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David.  They came to register because of the decree that Caesar Augustus had issued, that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her first born, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger. Then Joseph named him Jesus.

So the Lord’s promise came true, just as the prophet had said, “A virgin will have a baby boy, and he will be called Immanuel,” which means, “God is with us.”

Truly, “God was in Christ Jesus reconciling the world unto Himself.”

I ask you to set aside the next few moments and get utterly quiet before God. Claim God’s wonderful promise fulfilled in Christ Jesus. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” As you draw near to Him, purposely center your thoughts on God, Who is certainly with you at this very moment. As you confess your sinfulness, claiming His promise fulfilled in Christ Jesus, you will discover the joy of your salvation. Now go back and read the Christmas Story again.

MERRY CHRISTMAS