“He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:10-14
This week, please try to spend some quality time with a young child, grandchild or a baby or even just spend a few minutes looking at the young child in the attached photo and then consider that the Son of God came down from Heaven in this form and lived here, amid all this chaos, to be our Savior. “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” Before turning in last night I sat and looked at my small Christmas tree and thought about building a 1’ x 3’ wood cross and then wrapping it in festive Christmas paper as that is what this season is really all about. The Son of God left Heaven and came here to die for us because we are unable to save ourselves from what we have become in this sin filled world. Find a baby this week and think about Jesus. Today I am closing with the words from an ancient hymn titled ‘Savior of the Nations, Come’ that were originally written by St. Ambrose in 397 AD and later translated into German by Martin Luther in 1524.
“Savior of the nations, come, Virgin's Son, make here Thy home! Marvel now, O heaven and earth, that the Lord chose such a birth. Not by human flesh and blood, by the Spirit of our God, was the Word of God made flesh; woman's Offspring, pure and fresh. Wondrous birth! O wondrous Child of the Virgin undefiled! Though by all the world disowned, still to be in heaven enthroned. From the Father forth He came and returneth to the same, captive leading death and hell; high the song of triumph swell! Thou, the Father's only Son, hast o'er sin the victory won. Boundless shall Thy kingdom be; when shall we its glories see? Brightly doth Thy manger shine, glorious is its light divine. Let not sin o'ercloud this light; ever be our faith thus bright. Praise to God the Father sing, praise to God the Son, our King, praise to God the Spirit be ever and eternally.”
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you…Jay
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