CHRISTMAS JOURNEY

Good evening everyone.

 

Here is today's Bible lesson:

 

CHRISTMAS JOURNEY

 

READ:

Luke 2:1-7

 

Galatians 4:4-5

 

When the fullness of the time

had come, God sent forth His

Son.  -Galatians 4:4

 

How far is it from Nazareth to Bethlehem?  If you're in Pennsylvania, it's about 9 miles and takes about 10 minutes by car.  But if you're in Nazareth of Galilee, and you're traveling along with your pregnant wife, as Jospeh was, it's about 80 miles to Bethlehem.  That journey probably took Joseph and Mary about a week, and they didn't stay in a nice hotel when they got there.  All Jospeh could find was a stall in a stable, and that's where Mary delivered "here first-born Son" (Luke 2:7).

 

But the journey for the infant Jesus was much farther than 80 miles.  He left His place in heaven at God's right hand, came to earth, and accepted our humanity.  Eventulally, He was stretched out on a cross to die, and He was buried in a borrowed tomb.  But the journey was not over.  He conquered death, left the tomb, walked again among men, and ascended to heaven.  Even that is not the journey's end.  Someday He will reutrn as King of kings and Lord of lords.

 

As you take a Christmas journey this month, reflect on the journey Jesus made for us.  He came from heaven to earth to die for us, making salvation available through His death on the cross and His glorious resurrection.

 

Praise God for that first Christmas journey! - Dave Egner

 

When God stepped out of heaven above

And came down to this earth,

He clothed Himself in human flesh-

A Child of lowly birth. -D. De Haan

*******************************************************

Jesus came to earth for us

so we could go to heaven with Him.

 

INSIGHT

The Holy Spirit is the "Spirit of adoption," assuring and testifying that we are God's children (Galatians 4:5; Romans 8:9, 16-17), enabling us to cry out "Abba, Father," turning orphans into sons and sons into heirs (Galatians 4:5-7).  He is the seal, "the guarantee of our inheritance" (Ephesians 1:13-14).  Fifty days after Jesus' resurrection, "when the Day of Pentecost had fully come" (Acts 2:1), "when the fullness of the time had come" (v.4), God gave His Spirit to dwell in men forever (John 14:17).

 

Have a blessed night.

God Our Creator's Love Always

Unity & Peace