Daily Bible Verses for 12/21/2016
Daily Verse(s)
So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Reading Notes
First, we should take note of the estate in which Jesus was born to Mary. He was laid in a feeding trough used for animals. And it’s this reference which gave us the idea of Jesus being born in a stable, while in truth ancient tradition states it was a cave like enclosure in the hillside, most likely used to keep animals. But notice the humility and low estate of Jesus as He enters the world. The living God of Heaven, lowered Himself to the humblest of means, but why? He did so because Jesus came to save sinners! He did not come to bring greatness to Himself. This was God’s gift to mankind that we may be saved and spend eternity with Him. So in the town where David was born, in the town where Micah the prophet through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit told us the Messiah would be born. The living God of Heaven took on humanity and dwelt with mankind. His name is Jesus or Immanuel, which means, “God with man.” Dear child of God, we have to remember all sin is rebellion against God. No matter how small or insignificant it may seem to us, it’s still rebellion against God.
Moreover, all rebellion against God, in either thought or deed, no matter how small, makes us guilty before the eyes of God. We have to remember sin places on us a sentence of eternal separation from God in Hell. In addition, we are guilty because of our sin, we have already borne the sentence of Hell, and we cannot perform any good deeds to remove our guilt. We have to remember there are no scales in Heaven, God is not going to weigh our good deeds against our bad, or judge us in comparison to someone else. In addition, works produced by our own sin-nature cannot erase, or remove the sentenced of Hell, which has already been placed on us. Therefore, there must be a substitute to take our place. Not only a substitute, but a substitute who is like us in every way except for sin. This means that there was no other way for us to be saved than for God Himself to step out of eternity and take on humanity, in order that He Himself could be our blameless substitute. This is what Jesus has done for us. Jesus the very God of Heaven stepped out of eternity, He took on humanity for no other reason than to take our place and pay the price that we could not afford to pay. Jesus did this in order that through our faith in Him alone for salvation, we could spend eternity with Him.