{"id":22015,"date":"2017-12-22T00:05:43","date_gmt":"2017-12-22T08:05:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/?p=22015"},"modified":"2017-12-14T15:21:16","modified_gmt":"2017-12-14T23:21:16","slug":"december-22-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/2017\/12\/22\/december-22-2017\/","title":{"rendered":"December 22, 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cThe LORD has made known His salvation. His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations\u2026 And all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God!\u201d<\/em> Psalm 98:2-3<\/p>\n

Mystery Made Known<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Jesus came in complete humble love to rescue from sin and provide everlasting fellowship with the Father and the promise of an eternal home with Himself, as well as life abundant here as we surrender our lives to Him and hope on His mercy. The promise is for whosoever will believe and come! We trust, rest, and obey by loving the Lord our God with all our hearts, loving our neighbor as ourselves, and choosing His life directed by the Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n

This time of year we are brought back to the humble beginnings of our Lord\u2019s chosen coming. He was born in an animal shelter, far different from our warm, sterile hospitals with professional staff. Yet His humble birth was accompanied with a glorious attention from the heavens as the angels couldn\u2019t hold back their praise and adoration of God\u2019s prophecy fulfilled (Luke 2:13-14). The animals and the shepherds were the first witnesses of this glorious event that would change lives and nations forever.<\/p>\n

This was and is God\u2019s provision and rescue for sinful man. It wasn\u2019t fancy or expensive. It was available for all mankind\u2014the simple opening of the heart to the reality of God\u2019s unfathomable LOVE that we can\u2019t even begin to comprehend. That\u2019s why many miss it and can\u2019t accept it. It\u2019s too good to be true.<\/p>\n

But Jesus came as \u201cthe true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world<\/em>\u201d (John 1:9), and as the promise: \u201cBut as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name<\/em>\u201d (John 1:12). \u00a0He came by the will of God that we may behold His glory, full of grace and truth!<\/p>\n

My attempt this Christmas season has been to spend my early morning devotions being saturated with these truths to carry throughout the day, that I may walk by the Spirit and affect those in my life, so that they may ask about the hope that I have and the true meaning of Christmas. Yes, family traditions, visiting, shopping, and baking are important, but if these things are not seeped in love and His purpose\u2026 empty! I don\u2019t want to be empty this Christmas. The Lord doesn\u2019t want us to be empty.<\/p>\n

He has fulfilled the promise of making known His salvation revealed in the sight of the nations! May we share His glory with those we love. Merry Christmas!!<\/p>\n

\u201cDear Lord, we thank You for making known Your salvation, given to us by Your coming in humility in the flesh to show us how to love and live. Thank You for Your rescue! Help us reflect Your glory so hearts are stirred to seek You. Jesus, we love You and need You, not only for ourselves, but to give Your glorious hope to this hurting world. In Jesus\u2019 Name, Amen.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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