Here we are, with Christmas less than two weeks away!
I’m actually feeling pretty good about that this year. All the presents are bought and wrapped and under the tree. (That’s mostly a result of our daughter’s wedding coming up on January 7th. I wanted to get Christmas tasks done so that we can focus on wedding stuff when she gets home from college soon 😉
Today I’m sharing one of my favorite Christmas passages from the Bible.
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. ~Matthew 1:18-23
There’s so much to love in these verses!
We have Joseph, a just and righteous man, wanting to do the right thing by Mary, receiving divine guidance through a dream.
There’s Mary who’s been visited by an angel, a virgin carrying a child, while promised in marriage to a good man.
We have the fulfillment of the prophecy from Isaiah 7:14, a Messiah to be born in Israel.
And there’s the promised babe, Emmanuel, God with us.
In this passage, I see four gifts for you and me this Christmas.
1. God’s faithfulness
Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet…
God always keeps his promises. Throughout the Old Testament, the prophets foretold the Messiah’s coming. Every single prophecy was fulfilled.
God doesn’t change. His Word endures forever. And the promises we find there today are just as true as the day they were written. God is faithful.
2. Salvation from our sins
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.
What we could never do on our own, Jesus came to do. He lived a perfect life, died by crucifixion on a cross, and rose three days later to secure our salvation. Truly the greatest gift ever given.
3. A Savior who knows our struggles
…and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. ~Hebrews 4:15
Emmanuel. God, come to live among the humans he created. Yet he didn’t avoid the pain, the trials, the struggles of life while he was here.
Rather he went through them all, just like we do, but without sinning. Jesus knows what our hearts feel today, how our bodies fail, the difficulty of guarding our minds. He empathizes and he understands.
4. Trust in God’s sovereign plan
Over the thousands of years before Christ’s birth, God orchestrated it all. The genealogies, the places, the timing of events – God made it all happen according to his plan.
Even down to Joseph and Mary…probably not on the list of “Most likely to be chosen earthly parents of God’s Son”…at least not if you were looking for the rich or the famous to play that role.
We can trust God’s sovereign plan for our lives. He is all-knowing, all-powerful and He works all together for our good and His glory.
I hope you get some great gifts this Christmas, I really do! But right here, in these four truths, we can find joy and peace that material gifts can never provide.
Wishing you God’s richest blessings this Christmas season!
Related posts:
- 7 Gifts I’d Like to Open That Won’t Be Under My Tree This Year
- What Are You Looking Forward to This Christmas?
- Unwrap the Gift of Peace This Christmas
Your daughter’s wedding is so soon! How exciting! And probably nerve-wracking, too. Have you found a dress? I think that was the most stressful thing for my mom when my sister and I got married (not to each other 🤣).
And I think it’s wonderful that you’re volunteering! I think that’s a great thing to do once kids are out of the house. And it gets us out of the house, too!
Yes, I do have my dress! I actually found it in Dillards when I was visiting the girls at college this fall. Before I took it to the checkout, I looked online and saw that Amazon had the same dress for a little bit cheaper, so I just ordered it from there.
I’m thankful for this opportunity to volunteer! Every week I learn something new, it seems. I’m glad for the opportunity to help others and, just like you said, it gives me a reason and a purpose for getting out of the house. Our younger daughter plans to work at a camp in another state next summer, and with our other daughter then married and living away from home, I wanted to go ahead and find some profitable ways to use my time!
Hope you and your family are well and ready for a joyous Christmas!!
Thank you for this beautiful post of true gifts, HAPPY WEDDING WEEK!!!!!!!!! Praying peace, ease, & blessings over you and your entire family!
Thank you so much!! I can definitely tell that people are praying for me because I’m feeling very calm about all the wedding things. Hopefully that will last through the weekend 🙂 Such an exciting time for us!!