The New Year is only a few days old. Let's commit ourselves afresh to reading the Word of God day-by-day. Here are some links which I hope you will find helpful.
Read a specific comment online
Print a booklet containing monthly readings
Blessings, in Christ
inhisgloriousnameministriesonline.blogspot.com
The Virgin Birth of Christ took place as part of God's work of salvation. To read this story only in terms of the question, "Did it really happen?" is to read it superficially. There is, in this story, the call to receive Christ and His salvation. Joseph was not required to do anything by way of procreation. Nevertheless, he was invited to involve himself in God's purpose of salvation. He was invited to acknowledge that "what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 1:20). He was invited to "take Mary ... as (his) wife" (Matthew 1:20). This also involved taking Jesus - not only as 'his son' but also as his Saviour. This is the Gospel invitation. God offered His Son to Joseph. He offers His Son to us. He invites us, like Joseph, to take Jesus - as our Saviour. From Joseph, we also learn the Gospel response (Matthew 1:24-25). He obeyed the Lord's command. He took Mary (and, with her, Jesus) but "He had no union with here ... " This was no casual thing. For Joseph, Mary and Jesus came first. For us, Jesus must come first. He gave Him the Name Jesus - "Saviour". This is what we must do - "Jesus, You are my Saviour."
Some tell us that the Virgin Birth is not an integral part of faith of the New Testament. At this point, we do recognize an important difference between Christ's resurrection and His virgin birth. There were many witnesses to His resurrection. The virgin birth story must go back to Mary herself. The Bible lays great emphasis on Christ's resurrection. We should not, however, conclude that the virgin birth story, because it is not emphasized so much, is not true! Looking at Christ's birth, His resurrection and all that lies between these two events, we emphasize His uniqueness. He entered the world as no other man ever entered it. He lived in the world as no other man lived in it. He left the world as no other man ever left it.At the beginning, the middle and the end of Christ's life, we are reminded that our salvation is supernatural. What we cannot do for ourselves, God has done for us. Concerning Christ's birth, His miracles and His resurrection and His miracles, we stress both the facts and their meaning. We do not have a profound meaning without historical facts. we have the facts which make the meaning - salvation - clear.
Some want a ‘Christianity’ without the Virgin Birth. They tell us that the Virgin Birth story should be interpreted symbolically rather than literally. They tell us that people are entitled to believe different things. What are we to make of this kind of talk? Matthew’s account begins with a very simple statement: “This is how the birth of Jesus Christ cane about! (1:18). According to Matthew, “this is the way it happened”. When God’s Word tells us that this is what happened, what right do we have to suggest that it might have happened ion some other way? We must be careful not to argue with God. we should not question Him, echoing the words of the serpent - “Did God say?” (Genesis 3:11). There are several indications that the fact is to be believed. (a) Joseph “had no union with her until she gave birth to a son” (Matthew 1:25). Why are we told this? Is it not to emphasize. even more strongly, the miracle of God: “what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:20)? (b) Mary asked, “How shall this be … since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34). She knew this was most unusual, and she needed an explanation. She accepted the divine explanation: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you” (Luke 1:35). (c) “Nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37). Why would God’s Word lay such emphasis on this point if there was nothing miraculous about Christ’s birth? Our answer must surely be that here we are in the realm of miracle, and not simply the realm of nature. It may sound fairly plausible to say, “people are entitled to believe different things”. We must surely challenge this “liberty of opinion” where it conflicts with the principle expressed by Mary: “let it be to me according to Your Word” (Luke 1:38).
The birth of John the Baptist was foretold in an angelic message (Luke 1:13-17) which speaks of prayer - “your prayer is heard” (v. 13), preparation - looking forward to a time of “joy and gladness” (v. 14), power - “filled with the Holy Spirit” ( v. 15) and purpose - “he will turn many of the people to the Lord their God … to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (vs. 16-17). John’s ministry is described in John 1:19-34. In his ministry, there is prayer -pointing to Christ, the One who is worthy to receive our prayers (v. 27), preparation- preparing people for Christ (v. 23), power - pointing people to the power of Christ which comes to us in the gift of the Holy Spirit, purpose -pointing people to the purpose of Christ’s coming (v. 29). Prepare for Christmas prayerfully, remembering that the power of the Christian message lies in the purpose of Christ’s coming.
Jesus Christ is the Word of God. He is the Beginning. He is also the End (John 1:1-3; Revelation 21:6).
He is ‘the Word... made flesh’. ‘We have seen His glory’(John 1:14). This is only the beginning. When He returns, we shall see His glory - ‘we shall see Him as He is’(1 John 3:2).
From Him, there is creation (John 1:1-3).
From Him, there is salvation (John 1:12-13).
In Him, we receive the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit (John 1:29, 32-34).
He is the Word of God, the Lamb of God and the Son of God (John 1:1, 29, 34). When we look at Jesus Christ, we see God - ‘the ‘Word was God’(John 1:1), ‘No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has made Him known’(John 1:18).
Do you want to know what God is like? - Look at Jesus (John 14:9).
What do we see when we look at Him? - ‘the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world’(John 1:29).
From the heights of heaven and the depths of suffering, ‘God... has spoken to us by His Son’ (Hebrews 1:1-2).
Jesus Christ is God’s ‘Word’ to us. He is ‘the Word’ who came from heaven: ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God’. He is ‘the Word’ who came to earth: ‘the Word became flesh and dwelt among us...’ (John 1:1-14).
In heaven, He is worshipped by angels: ‘Let all God’s angels worship Him’(Hebrews 1:6).
On earth, ‘He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone’(Hebrews 2:9).
We see the greatness of Christ in both His heavenly glory and His saving grace. None can compare with Him. He is our Lord. He is our Saviour. We consider all that He has done for us - ‘the nail marks in His hands...’- and we worship Him - ‘my Lord and my God’(John 20:19-20,24-28).
‘Exalt the Lord our God... Make a joyful noise to the Lord’ (Psalms 99:5,9; 98:4,6; 100:1).
We are to worship the Lord with joy. We are to glorify God. We are to enjoy Him.
In our worship, we must never forget the holiness of God: ‘He is holy! ... The Lord our God is holy!’ (Psalm 99:5, 9).
In our worship, we rejoice in the love of God: ‘His steadfast love endures for ever... He has done marvellous things!’(Psalms 100:5; 98:1).
The God of ‘awesome purity’ loves us with the most perfect love of all: ‘No earthly father loves like Thee...’ Let us worship Him with holy fear and heartfelt love: ‘O how I fear Thee, living God, with deepest, tenderest fears... with trembling hope and penitential tears! Yet I may love Thee too, O Lord, Almighty as Thou art, for Thou hast stooped to ask of me the love of my poor heart’ (Church Hymnary, 356).
‘Good News’- Let us ‘shout for joy’. ‘Good News’- Let us sing ‘songs of joy’.
There is the Good News of God’s reign - ‘Your God reigns’.
There is the Good News of our redemption - ‘The Lord has redeemed’ us.
We are not to keep the Good News to ourselves. This ‘news of happiness’ is to be shared with everyone. We must let ‘all the ends of the earth see the salvation of our God’.
‘Christ died for our sins’- This is Good News.
Christ was ‘raised on the third day’- This is Good News.
‘Jesus is Lord’- This is Good News.
This is the Good News we must ‘pass on’ to others. In our world, there is so much bad news. We must not let the Good News be drowned out by the bad news. We must make sure that the people hear the Good News - loud and clear (Isaiah 52:7-10; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Mission Praise, 249).
Here are a few articles you may find helpful.
The Child Who Learned Dreams Come True is dedicated to children and the child deep within us all. That child who loves to dream, that loves adventure, that believes and hopes for great things.
Just imagine spending 40 days and 40 nights in the Teton Mountains and surrounding areas. The beauty, nature, peace, wonderful moments, beautiful sunsets and endless hours of being far from the hustle bustle of life.