In John 3:16,17 Jesus tells Nicodemus, who was a Jewish Scholar, the now familiar text, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

And today we celebrate the birth of Jesus who came to earth to save us, like those in Luke’s account of the shepherds being told of Jesus’ birth. “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.” Luke 2:13,14

Thank you Lord for the gift of our Savior Jesus Christ whose birth we celebrate today. What joy we can have knowing that he came to save us. In His name we pray. Amen.

So the angel Gabriel appears to Mary and tells her she will have a child as a virgin. What incredible faith and trust Mary showed in responding, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” Luke 1:38.

In the same way, Joseph, who learns his fiance is pregnant, which in that culture and time would have been a very bad situation. In a dream an angel tells Joseph the child is the Messiah. Matthew 1:24 says, “When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife.”

Do you think they had doubts after the visits from the angels? They were human like us, but out of faith and trust in God they continued on the path God led them.

What about us? We read the bible lessons instructing us to give tithes and offerings, commit our plans to the Lord, put God ahead of everything, give God thanks and praise for our blessings. How are we doing? Do we doubt if we follow his direction he will let us down?

In Romans 9:33 Paul says, “But anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”

And Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”

Dear Lord, what great examples you gave us in the story of Mary and Joseph. They accepted your direction and acted in faith. Help us to do the same with our lives, trusting that if we follow your will, you will protect and guide us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

If you have traveled internationally, to places where the primary language is not your primary language, you may have experienced the feeling of being a foreigner, in a place that was not your home.

This is how Jesus describes his followers, us, when he prays in John 17:16 “They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.”

The closer we get to Jesus, the more we feel like strangers in our world, but the closer we feel to other believers and to our true homeland with Jesus.

Dear Lord, it is a joy to know we are citizens of your world. In Jesus name. Amen.

Think of some famous person, U.S. President, Business Leader, or Celebrity. How many generations back do you think we can identify the names of their ancestors? How far back can we identify our ancestors? Most likely, we can identify our great grandparents, or maybe their parents. That would be four generations back.

Matthew 1:1-16, lists the fathers and some of the mothers of Jesus’ ancestors back to Abraham. Matthew 1:17 says, “All those listed above include fourteen generations from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the Babylonian exile, and fourteen from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah.”

Luke 3:23-38 also has the a list of Jesus’ ancestors recorded all the way back to Adam, 76 Generations.

Though there are some variations between the Luke and Matthew list, historians have logical reasons for these variations. I find it amazing to have this type of information for a person that lived 2000 years ago. It is difficult to dispute the significance of Jesus Christ.

Dear Lord, What a blessing it is for us to have historical information about Jesus. The extensive consistency and authenticity of Biblical accounts of history are being identified every day. Help us use this information to support our understanding, our faiths, and our witness to others, that they may come to know you, also. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Luke 2:10-11 tells us through the angels who appeared to the Shepherds, “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today.”

Doesn’t this cover the entire message of Jesus Christ and Christianity. We don’t need to fear, because of the “good news of great joy for all people.”

Dear Lord, help us have the joy in our hearts and lives that comes from knowing our Savior has come. In Jesus’ name. Amen.