-Strength for Today- "Christmas is All About Being with God." - Matthew 1:23.

     Jesus’ birth brought Godly emphasis to earth, in that by Him, God extended His peace and:

·       Divine

·       Intention

      To all who’ll accept it. And for that expressed reason, Christmas is all about Him wanting to have a relationship with you and me. This year many will get all excited about the presents that’s gathered under a “lifeless tree,” where many hours are spent celebrating and decorating it, only to succumb on Christmas day with:

·       Giddy expressions toward

·       Those items received.

      But look at it this way, as said Dr. H.D Washington, “Today isn’t your birthday!” Because at the center of the Christmas message is a God of love who desires to be with us! That's why God the Father sent His Son Jesus to be born as a little baby. And this set in motion His whole plan of love in Jesus' death and resurrection that would break through the barrier of sin, left by Adam, and reunite depraved mankind back to a loving Heavenly Father.

   Matter of fact, Jesus Himself made it clear that our relationship with God should be our highest priority in this life when He said, “If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Henceforth is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit, so shall ye be My disciples” –John 15:7-8.

    This is God's will that we remain in fellowship with Him for all eternity. And This is the glorious news that we’re to proclaim to the nations this Christmas, that Jesus is Emmanuel, that id to say, “God with us.”  Because by His shed blood, He has ransomed all of man-kind from the captivity of sin, He now, by faith, lives with us through the precious:

·       Knowledge,

·        Understanding and

·       Wisdom

     Of the Holy Spirit.

Author: Plez Lovelady, Jr., PhD