God's Good Will Of Love - The Message Of Christmas

12.24.2008 Christmas Eve

Luke 2:10-15

Matthew 2:11b

Nehemiah 8:10

Psalm 23:1 says it all...The Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need

Good News we all can have

Peace, Hope, Joy and Love

By the will of God, His Good Will to all mankind.

Driving around the countryside, we were taken by all the Christmas lights we could see. As a matter of fact, when we left our home, Santa was coming up the road on the top of a big Red Firetruck. We pulled over to the side and put our windows down to wave and shout out. In that moment a big gust of wind took off Santa’s Hat, Hair and Beard and blew it to the back of the hook and ladder. It was such a sight. I had to laugh. The things we will do to make the holiday festive.

As we went on our way, we took note of the homes decorated, the beautiful lights and decorations as well as the nativities or crèches displayed on the front lawns of the homes.

We trekked down to brother Larry’s home and saw something not seen in most, it was the silhouette version of the nativity, shown on your bulletin cover. What I liked about it was that it shows the star, Mary, Joseph, the baby Jesus, a few animals, and a shepherd. It is simple and peaceful and honestly, it followed what scripture says about that event. As the wisemen actually came a few years later to their home, not the stable.

But that is not what is important here, what is important is the truth and meaning of what was displayed.

I have to wonder, as folks put their crèches out on display, do they really know what they are doing? Do they really take in the reality of what the scene is all about? Do they realize the most important piece in the whole scene is probably the smallest as well?

Its interesting, along side of most of these nativities, we find a few feet away, Frosty the snowman, Santa Claus in the chimney, Rudolf the red nosed reindeer, and SpongeBob Square pants.

Here you have it...Truth and fiction, Reality and Fantasy. No wonder so many folks are confused.

On the radio, we listen to the Christmas Songs. How many times do we hear the words and the tune, and only the tune rings in our minds. We need to not only hear the joyous tune, but we need to LISTEN to the WORDS! There is TRUTH in the WORD. As many of the songs were taken from the WORD.

Therefore, it is important to let everyone know...the truth.

Luke 2:10,11, 13-15 (King James Version)

10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

Wisemen brought gifts to the Savior

Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11

1Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

2Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

9 ...and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

11And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

As the wisemen brought gifts to the Savior...

So was it that the Savior brought a gift from God to this world

As savior...redeemer.

Throughout the bible – waiting and seeking the savior who would get us right with God

Throughout the old testament, the books of the bible that the Jews refer to as the Torah and the Tanak, we see that God required the blood of a sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins. For centuries, and even millenniums, the nation of Israel sacrificed the blood of the lamb upon the alter for the forgiveness of sins, in order to get themselves right before God.