Dave’s Monday Blast – December 5, 2016
“For unto us a Child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Most of us associate Christmas with the giving of gifts (I like to receive them too). We take our cue from God Himself as He gave to us the Gift of the Word. When Christ-Followers speak of The Word they typically consider it in two ways: 1) the literal Word of God (Scripture) and 2) Our Savior Jesus Christ who is defined in John 1:1 as The Word.
All of Scripture is a story about The Word. We find Him everywhere. The Jesus-Centered Bible (check it out–fantastic resource) has hundreds of references in the Old Testament highlighted in blue ink that directly relate to or refer to the Christ introduced in the New Testament. And, of course, the New Testament connects all those dots to the person of Jesus:
In the Gospels – In the person of Jesus God was GIVING A GIFT that nobody else could give. (Luke 2:8-12)
In Acts – In Jesus God was CREATING A FAMILY that nobody else could create. (Acts 1:8; 2:44-47)
In the Letters – In Jesus God was PROVIDING DIRECTION FOR LIVING that nobody else could provide. (Romans 12:2)
In the Revelation – In Jesus God was MAKING PROMISES that nobody else could make. (Revelation 21:1-4)
Author and Pastor Max Lucado says, “At the first Christmas, God took a journey of a billion steps…to come to us, but He always leaves the last step to you”. I love this statement. It reminds me that I must INTENTIONALLY use the tools that He has provided so I can share with a broken world, living in darkness, that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He is the light of the World. In Him is found the truth that sets us free from sin and death. It is through The Word that mankind is reconciled back to God. That is a matchless gift. One worth giving any time of the year, but it is in this season that hearts are open to God’s matchless gift. Take advantage of it. We have Christmas Eve services and a Christmas Day Sunday morning service where the Word will be shared in a simple, direct fashion. Invite someone who needs the Gift of the Word.
