Being First

We are taught that "being first" is important. In the Olympics you receive a gold medal. In sports you become "world champions". At the fair you get a blue ribbon. At other events you might receive a trophy. Jesus is first in many ways. In today's Scripture he is called "firstborn". The word firstborn can mean first in birth order, but also first in sequence, or first in rank. Matthew 1:25  - Joseph did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.

Jesus is “firstborn” in other ways too:

1. He is God’s firstborn. ( Hebrews 1:6 & Psalms 89:27)

2. He is firstborn over all creation (Colossians 1:15)

3. He is firstborn from the dead (Revelation 1:5)

4. He is firstborn among many brothers (Romans 8:29)

Is Jesus always first in your life?

Hope and Peace

Christmas Hope brings us His peace. This hope is named Jesus! For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. - John 3:16

 Last week studied Christmas signs and symbols, and how they can lead us to Jesus. The end product of this story is the birth of Christ the greatest gift of hope of all. Even in the most serious problems we can get closer to God. Joseph was called to care and protect Baby Jesus and His Mother Mary. Upon hearing God’s instructions clearly he obeyed them immediately.

 Joseph followed his directions perfectly in Matthew chapter one:

 He married Mary, who was carrying the Son of God in her womb.

²⁴ When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.

 He named the child Jesus as he was instructed.

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.”

Listen and obey God's direction for your life. Allow His peace to rule your world. Amen?

Answers

Why did Jesus have come to earth?  

Part of the answer is found in Hebrews 2:14-18; 14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Jesus did not enter the world just to be here, He had a mission to fulfill:

1. He came to deliver us from the fear of death. (14-15)

2. He came to deliver us from the fury of judgment. . (16-17)

3. He came to deliver us from the force of temptation. (18)

He has come for us; now He invites us to come to Him. Joy to the world!

Have you received His joy?

Reach

Christmas is a time that reminds us that God reaches down to the most lost and hopeless sinner. Yes, that includes you, me, and all humanity.

Look at Ephesians 2:1-10 - 1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

God loves you deeply. Acknowledge it, praise Him for, and be obedient to His call on your life. 

Amen?

Appearing

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. Luke 2:15-16

We all know the song, O Come All Ye Faithful:

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, born the King of angels;

O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

We have that same calling and opportunity to experience Christ.

Remember the last verse?

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be glory given;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing.

Accept Jesus in every area of your life. It’s the best present you could ever receive.

Amen?

Love

 “As the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward us” (Psalm 103:11)

God’s mercy, grace, and love show the height of His love. He promises us that nothing can separate us – Nothing! Praise God for His enduring love.

Romans 8:35-39 - 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord

Remember God’s love for you this Christmas – His name is Jesus!

Amen?

Shine Jesus Shine

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” – Matthew 2:1-2

The star stands out in significance as relevant and vital today as when God hung it in space. The Bible tells us that God commissioned a particular star to serve as a travel guide for a group of men from the East who had developed an interest in looking for a child to fulfill a prophecy that in Bethlehem a ruler to shepherd Israel would be born. They found Mary, Joseph, and Jesus in a house where they fell to their knees, worship the child, and gave Him gifts. The star is a symbol of God’s gift of direction to us. It is His travel guide to seekers who will look and follow. The star led the wise men to Jesus, the Light of world. As we light our Christmas tree and the star in our homes, businesses, and churches may we remember that Jesus is the true Light in a world of darkness. He points the way to God - always. 

Amen?