The old familiar story~ Luke 2
12/15/2009 11:40:45 PM
Christmas
Good Morning, dear ones~
The day we celebrate our Lord's birth draws nigh . . .
He was born in an obscure village, the child of a simple peasant woman. He grew up in another obscure village, where He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher. He never had a family. He never owned a home. He never set foot inside a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place He was born, and where he did go he usually walked. He never wrote a book. He never held political office. He did none of the things we usually associate with greatness. While He was still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against Him. His friends deserted Him. He was turned over to His enemies, and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. While He was dying, His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had in this world - and that was His robe. His purple robe. When He was dead, He was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave provided by compassionate friends. Twenty wide centuries have come and gone, and today He is the central figure for much of the human race, the leader in the column of human progress. All the armies that ever marched, and all the navies that ever sailed, and all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth so powerfully as this one solitary life "One Solitary Life" James Francis
The precious account:
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" Luke 2.1-14
It wasn't until the last year or so, that I grew to love Luke, the writer of the third gospel. You see, Luke's detailed account pinpointed Jesus' birth in history, since he gave the names of the leaders. Ah. . . the story of Jesus. . . the story so precious, as the Holy One came to live amongst us, loving, touching, healing.
May you feel His presence this Christmas season as you never have. Especially if your heart is aching, may the divine love of Jesus bind your wounds, and fill your heart. Remember . . . his love for you endures forever . . . his love for you is extravagant!
Christmas love to you,
Christine