Category: Advent 2021

Do you remember that perfect moment of hope when mankind existed alongside Yahweh? We were working and cultivating the earth in obedience to our creator when a split-second decision broke our relationship with God and became the first act of disobedience in history. God’s gift of life was eternal; Adam’s and Eve’s act of disobedience disrupted the perfect balance of relationship in His garden. Our loving Yahweh knew that eating from the tree of life would keep us in that broken system of evil with no hope for redemption forever.

God is just and holy and separated from sinners like us. This is our main problem at Christmas—and every other season. How shall we get right with a just and holy God?

You hear a lot about the spirit of Christmas at this time of year. But the spirit of Christmas needs to be superseded by the Spirit of Christ.

Much legend and tradition surrounds the story of the wise men. We’re told there were three wise men, that they were kings, that they came from the Orient, and that they found Jesus in the manger. But none of this is clear from the account in Scripture.

Christmas proves that God takes a deep interest in the so-called “unimportant people.” He arranged to have Jesus, the Son of God, born to a young peasant girl in an obscure village. It’s almost as if God were going out of His way to say, “Listen, we know that people of privilege expect privilege. It’s the underprivileged who never expect anything, so I’m going to aim at them. I’m going to give them the privilege of playing a leading role in My redemptive plan.”

Now Joseph and Mary were married. In the culture of the day, the marriage was done; the ceremony was over. All that remained was the consummation of it. In everyone’s eyes, Mary was Joseph’s wife. But she had just told him that she was pregnant. And since everyone knew that the consummation had not taken place (it, too, required a ceremony), Joseph was in great turmoil. His only solution was to divorce Mary as quietly as possible.

Mary, the mother of Jesus, had a unique experience. She is the most celebrated woman of all time—but there’s plenty of encouragement we can gain from her story.

The causes of anxiety are many: fears about the future, financial pressure, loneliness, family conflict, grief, illness and death. Yet one of the clear commands of Christ is: Don’t worry! Here our Savior gives us a double imperative: do not worry about either food or clothing, the basic necessities of life.

Peace for whom? There is a somber note sounded in the angels’ praise. Peace among those on whom his favor rests. Peace among those with whom he is pleased. But without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). So Christmas does not bring peace to all.

What is the longest you’ve ever waited for something? When Jesus came to earth as a baby, the world had been waiting for thousands of years. Thousands of years. Imagine what it must have felt like to wait that long. Could it have been frustrating, causing anxiety and increasing fear as the years went on?