The Iron Pen #84

God & Country

As God can send a nation or people no greater blessing than to give them faithful, sincere, and upright ministers, so the greatest curse that God can possibly send upon a people in this world is to give them over to blind, unregenerate, carnal, luke-warm, and unskillful guides (George Whitefield – 1714 to 1770)

The Seven Miracles of Christmas

• Annunciation – Luke 1:26-30

The word annunciation is not commonly used today. The word means, making an announcement or proclamation. The announcement in focus here is the one made by the angel Gabriel that the Virgin Mary is God’s choice of all the women upon earth to be the mother of the Messiah.

• Conception – Luke 1:31-35

The human body and human spirit of the Son of God were created by the power of God the Father and God the Spirit within the womb of the Virgin Mary without the aid of a man.

• Explanation – Matthew 1:18-25

The Angel Gabriel declares to Joseph that Mary had not been unfaithful but rather by the power of God conceived and would bring forth Emmanuel, God with us.

• Incarnation – John 1:1-4 & 14

As with the word annunciation, incarnation is a word that we rarely use in conversation today. The word literally means the act of clothing with flesh. This is the act of assuming flesh, or of taking a human body and the nature of man. That is what the second person of the Trinity, the Word of God, God’s Son did when He was born in Bethlehem. However, do not make the mistake that some make in thinking the birth in Bethlehem was the beginning of God the Son. He eternally existed with the Father & Holy Spirit (Micah 5:2)

• Declaration – Luke 2:8-17

No one would have noticed or even cared about a baby being born in a barn as it were, if it would not have been for the miraculous declaration of his birth to the shepherds by the angels. After the angelic announcement, the shepherds went to see the Savior and then spread the news of His birth far and wide.

• Conversation – Hebrews 10:5-10

Hebrews 10 is an important passage of Scripture that is not usually mentioned in association with the Christmas story. It records a conversation between God and his Son. This conversation reveals the reason for the incarnation. God became man so that He could offer Himself as a sin offering for our sins that we might be saved. That IS a miracle!

• Visitation – Matthew 2:1-12

The last miracle of Christmas revolves around the visit of the wise men. They were directed to the Christ child by His star. This star was the wise men’s own personal GPS and led them to the home where the young child resided with his parents. Jesus could have been up to two years old at this point. When the wise men arrived in Bethlehem, they worshipped Christ and presented him with costly presents. Wise men (and women) still seek Christ and when they have found him, they worship Him!

Baby’s Birthday Without Baby

Two women were enjoying an elaborate luncheon in a posh downtown restaurant. The waiter inquired as to the occasion of the lavish luncheon. One of the ladies replied, "We are celebrating the baby’s birthday!"

"Where is the baby?" asked the waiter?

"Oh," said the mother, "I did not bring him. He does not know anything about it."

Many people celebrate the Birthday of our Savior and neglect to include Him. In our rush of observing Christmas with its shopping, parties, programs, family gatherings and all, STOP to meditate upon the Christ Child who should be the center of it all.