For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 NKJV
After the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, the wise men went home to their country, the shepherds to their fields and Mary and Joseph after a time of hiding in Egypt returned to Nazareth. But when their travels were over, the journey of Jesus had just begun. The first leg of His trip had brought Him to our world, but for the next thirty-three years Jesus walked the second leg of His journey on His way to find us. Yes, God allowed Himself to be born as a fragile baby boy, but Bethlehem’s story is only half told if we all we do is walk away from the manger scene with warm fuzzy feelings.
In reality, the path from Bethlehem’s stable to Golgotha’s hill was even farther than the one from heaven to earth. After three years of healing the sick, comforting the outcasts and showing what God’s love was really all about, Jesus was left alone. On the cross He had no one to comfort Him and no one to understand, except His Father in heaven. Then with His final breath He surrendered His life for ours. There, at the cross Jesus finished His journey as He paid for our sins with His blood. In thankful astonishment let’s trust Him with our hearts, so that our journey that began with Christmas will lead us all the way to Heaven’s door!
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law Galatians 4:4 ESV
As Christmas approaches, we think of the journeys that ended on the night when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Shepherds walked down from the hills where they had been watching their flocks. Joseph and Mary had wearily journeyed ninety miles on foot from Nazareth to Bethlehem. We often suppose that the ones who came the farthest were the wise men who had traveled over a thousand miles. But of all who were in Bethlehem that night, no one had come further than the newborn baby they had come to worship.
The shepherds came when they heard the angels. The wise men journeyed because they saw His star appear. Mary and Joseph arrived when the time was right for the birth of the child. Today’s verse tells us that Jesus also was sent on a journey, but He left from farther than the farthest star, to come to Bethlehem. What could it have been like for Jesus to close His eyes while in the presence of angels and open them nine months later in a stable where mice rustled in the hay? When God had decided that it was the perfect day for Jesus to come, He couldn’t wait even one minute longer. Yet when Jesus was born and opened His eyes His journey had only just begun!
Once in our world, a Stable had something in it that was bigger than our whole world. C. S. Lewis
THIRD Week of ADVENT – JOY. Pastor Janice Burnett When I was a little girl I would have a recurring bad dream that now seems really silly – but at that time it was very scary. Each time I woke up afraid from that dream, my father came to my room and comforted me. You could say that his presence brought me not only hope and peace as we discussed the last two weeks – but it also brought joy. I don’t remember what he told me, but it worked! When you’re afraid, doesn’t good news bring you joy? A few thousand years ago there were men, minding their own business watching a flock of sheep at night. No one else wanted their job, because in that day shepherding was considered dirty work. While the rest of the world was sleeping safely in their homes, the shepherds were out in the fields with sheep. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. Luke 2:8-17 NIV The shepherds went from being terrified to being joyous. I’m sure that they had heard of babies being born plenty of times before. It is always good news to hear about a baby’s birth. But…this wasn’t “just any birth”! This was the birth of the Messiah – the one who would take away the sins of people, and God chose the shepherds to hear the good news first. Who wouldn’t rejoice and jump and shout for joy with that kind of good news? Their good news about Jesus is still good news for us today. Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, thank You for the joy that comes from knowing You and Your Son Jesus who comes every time I call to Him, even when I don’t feel good or am afraid. Help me to experience Your hope, peace and joy. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen!
God Can Even Use Taxes! By Peter Caligiuri And all went to be taxed, everyone into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David 🙂 Luke 2:3-4 KJV There is a great deal of talk in the church about finding God’s will for our finances, families, and careers. People often talk about God speaking to them about their ministry, buying a house or even choosing a spouse. But amazingly, God chose to lead Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem just in time for Jesus to be born there by having the government send them a bill for taxes! God’s doesn’t design His plan to be like a puzzle for us to solve, or a theological issue open to debate. He regularly chooses the most ordinary ways to lead us to some of the most spectacular breakthroughs for our lives. He works that way to show us that He is interested in the everyday concerns of our lives. If He chose to reveal the exact place and time for Jesus’ birth by a bill in the mail, we can be confident that if we are willing to obey Him; He will show us the way to go and help us get there right on time!
It is Christmas every time you let God love others through you. Mother Teresa
Thursday Sunshine is a weekly devotional newsletter that is a collaboration between Pastor Janice Burnett, Rob Keller and myself(Peter Caligiuri) we publish and distribute the Sunshine Newsletter among 8-9 different long term care facilities in Jew York and Florida. If you would like to receive our free publication simply send your contact information to Revpete51@gmail.com.
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