{"id":21827,"date":"2017-12-05T00:05:24","date_gmt":"2017-12-05T08:05:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/?p=21827"},"modified":"2017-11-29T14:27:59","modified_gmt":"2017-11-29T22:27:59","slug":"december-5-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/2017\/12\/05\/december-5-2017\/","title":{"rendered":"December 5, 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201dFrom Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to those who are called, wrapped in the love of God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ<\/i>.\u201d Jude 1:1 NET<\/p>\n

Wrapped In the Love of God the Father<\/b><\/h2>\n

This is one of the most beautiful ways to describe believers I\u2019ve ever read. Wrapping brings to mind presents and lovely paper with beautiful bows, and babies warm and secure, wrapped in blankets.<\/p>\n

Here are some other verses with wrapped<\/i> in them: \u201cAnd she gave birth to her firstborn Son and wrapped Him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn\u201d<\/i> (Luke 2:7).<\/p>\n

The very first Christmas found the Savior of the world in a barn, in a manger. A humble beginning for the Son of God who became the Son of Man to save all who would believe.<\/p>\n

About thirty-three years later, we see the servant heart of Jesus: \u201cHe poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel he had wrapped around himself.\u201d <\/i>John 13:5<\/p>\n

Jesus would be wrapped again after Calvary: \u201cAfter Joseph bought a linen cloth and took down the body, he wrapped it in the linen and placed it in a tomb cut out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone across the entrance of the tomb.\u201d<\/i> Mark 15:46<\/p>\n

The story doesn\u2019t end here\u2014the Savior, though dead and buried for a little while, rose again, triumphed over death, and secured eternal salvation (2 Timothy 1:10) for those, as our Scripture tells us, are called, wrapped in the love of God, and kept for Jesus.<\/p>\n

In the NASB, we see another way Jesus wrapped Himself, as He steps in to save the oppressed (Isaiah 59:16): \u201cHe put on righteousness like a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on His head; and He put on garments of vengeance for clothing and wrapped Himself with zeal as a mantle\u201d<\/i> (Isaiah 59:17).<\/p>\n

As a believer, no matter what happens down here on Earth\u2014let\u2019s face it, life\u2019s not all beautiful presents and warm\/secure moments\u2014I know ultimately it all will be beautiful, warm and secure, with an eternity of experiencing the fullness of being wrapped in the love of God.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re not a believer, it\u2019s not too late\u2014Jude, the author of today\u2019s Scripture, was Jesus\u2019 half brother and didn\u2019t believe until after His death and resurrection. I encourage you, as we approach Christmas, ask the Savior of the world into your heart\u2014truly the most beautiful present you\u2019ll ever receive.<\/p>\n

\u201cFather God, thank You for sending Your Son to bring us salvation. You watched as He was wrapped in swaddling cloths at birth, in linen at His burial, and as He wrapped Himself with zeal to save the oppressed. I pray for my sisters who aren\u2019t yet believers. As You call them, may they answer and experience being wrapped in Your love. Amen.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>

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