Digging Deeper~ Christmas Eve

Is.62:6-12: Isaiah prophecies to God's people of his promise to save them. He tells the people to pray without stopping until the promise is fulfilled. He tells those people from far countries to encourage His people until Jerusalem is rebuilt and seen as a Holy City. 

Ps. 97: God is king over all the earth. He is powerful. All the gods should worship God. When Jerusalem hears this, she is glad.  Far away lands should be glad. For God destroys his enemies and frees those who follow him. 

Titus 3:4-7:

God show kindness and love to us when he sent Jesus. Jesus' blood washes our sins and make us new. And the Holy Spirit is given to us, so we can receive the life that never ends. We can not receive this life by our good works, only though Jesus. 

Luke 2:(1-7),8-20:Details on how Jesus came to be born in Bethlehem & how God's angels told shepherds about the birth of the last lamb that would save the world and bring peace to them.

Isaiah prophesied about he would save them from their enemies. He tells them that when that happens God's people in Jerusalem should be happy, and so will those who follow God in countries that are far away. Then he tells them to pray until that day comes (Is. 62:6-12). King David also reminds his people that God is king over all the earth. He also tells them that God will some day save his people.When he does, all who follow God will be glad. Including those who live in far away countries (Ps. 97). I believe that these prophecies are speaking of the salvation that Jesus came to give to all people who will follow him. We are told this in Titus 3:4-7.  This is the message that Christmas brings to us. We hear it as the angels tell the shepherds of Jesus birth.  It is believed that the shepherds that were told of Jesus' birth were the ones who raised the sheep and lambs for the temple sacrifice. That would explain why God wanted them to know about Jesus' birth. For what the angels were telling them was that Jesus was to be the last lamb to be sacrificed for men's sin. For he became the lamb that takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29, 36 ). We can be saved and have spiritual peace, because of what God did for us through Jesus. All we have to do is ask for him to save us and then follow him in this world and into eternal life(Titus 3:4-7). So you see, Jesus was the first Christmas gift. And if you choose to be saved by him and follow him. Your salvation can be a Christmas gift that will last through out your life and for eternally.  Challenge for the day: Today stop and think about how Jesus is the Lamb of God that takes away our sins. If you have not been saved by him yet, please consider asking Jesus to forgive you of your sins and save you from the slavery of sin. If you have been saved by Jesus take the time to thank Jesus for loving you enough to humble himself to become a human to suffer and die for your sins so that you can be freed from being a slave to sin.  Accomplishment of the day: How did you thinking on God's Christmas gift of Jesus and what he did for you, make the day richer spiritually?