No Room

December 2

(Luke 2:7b NIV) “She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

(Psalms 10:4 NIV) “In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.”

(John 8:34-37 NIV) ““Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. {35} Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. {36} So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. {37} I know you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are ready to kill me, because you have no room for my word.””

The Son of God was born in a stable because there was no room in the inn. And it wasn’t just the innkeeper who had no room. The vast majority of Israel’s religious people had no room for Jesus, and they missed His coming. When Jesus grew to manhood and began His preaching ministry, many had no room for His word. Rather than listen to Him, they plotted to kill Him. Today, the prideful have no room in their thoughts for God. Their minds are consumed by thoughts of achievement, status, and power. Many of us, in this hectic Christmas season, will miss the Christ child in the hustle and bustle of shopping and partying. Even in His church, Christ is often crowded out by the pageantry and the plays. Christians, we are called to make room for Jesus in our homes, our thoughts, our church, and our lives. Jesus has made a room for you. Make room for Him! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Perfect Timing

December 1

(Luke 2:6-7 NIV) “While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, {7} and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.”

(Galatians 4:4-5 NIV) “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, {5} to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.”

The timing of Christ’s birth was perfect. It was the right time religiously. The Scriptures had been compiled in an orderly fashion and there were synagogues in just about every town where people could hear the word of God. It was the right time culturally. The highly descriptive and accurate Greek language was predominant, and would provide the platform for the gospels and epistles to be written. It was the right time politically. The world was essentially under one government in Rome, and when the first disciples were commissioned to share the gospel with all the world, they had a first-class road system, an almost universal language, and an outstanding postal system. The timing of Christ’s birth was no accident. This is what Paul meant in Galatians when he said, “when the time had fully come”. God’s timing was perfect. It still is! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Mary, Mother of God

November 30

(Luke 2:5 NIV)  "He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child."

(Matthew 1:18-25 NIV)  "This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. {19} Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. {20} But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. {21} She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." {22} All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: {23} "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" --which means, "God with us." {24} When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. {25} But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus."

Jesus came to us as the God-man. He serves as a model of humanity, as well as the atoning sacrifice for our sin. But the Son of God did not just magically show up. He was born of a woman who believed God. One human was chosen to provide Christ’s human nature, and through the Holy Spirit, become the mother of Immanuel, God with us. Mary was not perfect in the way God is perfect, but she was committed to purity and holiness. She was a virgin with a strong faith, and she was submissive to the will of God. To the casual observer, she would have looked like any ordinary, run of the mill young woman. But God saw something extraordinary in her -- something that, in His eyes, qualified her to be the mother of God. The Lord sees some extraordinary qualities in you as well, and by God’s Spirit and your faith, Christ can be born in you, and live in you. Believe God! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Right Town, Right Family Line

November 29

(Luke 2:4 NIV) “So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.”

(Matthew 1:1 NIV) “A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham:”

(Matthew 20:30-31 NIV) ““Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" {31} The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!””

Old Testament Scripture prophesied Bethlehem as the birthplace of the Messiah. That is where Jesus was born. Even before His birth, Jesus began fulfilling Old Testament prophesy. The prophets also said that the Christ would be born in the family line of David. This fits Jesus. His family traced through David, all the way back to Abraham. Matthew and many others call Him the “son of David”. The life and death of Jesus fulfilled hundreds of Old Testament prophesies. The chances of that happening by accident are astronomical -- so astronomical as to be impossible. But with God nothing is impossible. The Divine One who drew up the plan is the same Divine One overseeing the fulfillment of the plan. Jesus Christ, God incarnate, fulfills Scriptural prophesy because He is the one who put those prophesies into the hearts and mouths of the prophets to begin with. Jesus is Lord! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day