Merry Christmas

December 25

(Psalm 145:18-21 NIV) “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. {19} He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. {20} The Lord watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. {21} My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord. Let every creature praise his holy name forever and ever.”

(Matthew 1:18-23 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.””

On this day, the Lord came near -- even to those who were not calling for Him. Grace and truth and light came to Earth in a baby. Two humans became parents to God in flesh… Immanuel: God with us. The Lord heard our cries. He came into the world to save us and fulfill the desires of all who choose to fear Him. Darkness awaits those who despise and oppose Him -- this is the brutal, honest truth of Christmas. God drew a line in the sand in the little town of Bethlehem. B.C. and A.D. were forever divided. That line runs through every city and every human heart that exists today. On one side of the line you find peace of mind and eternal life. On the other side you find chaos, death, and hell. God poured out His light and love, and mankind is ether drawn to it or repelled by it. God so loved the world that He gave His Son for us. Choose this day whom you will follow. Step across that line. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day