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| Christmas Morning 2023 |
Each year I share some sort of message with our family on Christmas morning. This year it started with one of the most well known verses in the Bible.
[Perish: To die or be destroyed, especially in a violent or untimely manner]
Perish? Why? Due to what?
King David shared a message from God concerning the sinfulness of the wicked. He said:
“There is no fear of God before their eyes. In their own eyes they flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin. The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful; they fail to act wisely or do good. Even on their beds they plot evil; they commit themselves to a sinful course and do not reject what is wrong.” (Psalm 36:1-4)
King David also described the natural consequence for unconfessed sin:
”When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.” (Psalm 32:3-4)
Living our lives with unconfessed sin leads to total misery. We can try to hide it, ignore it, or blame it on someone or something else, but it’s still there like a cancer in our hearts that will ultimately lead to our perishing or spiritual death.
King David also described the natural consequence for unconfessed sin:
”When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.” (Psalm 32:3-4)
Living our lives with unconfessed sin leads to total misery. We can try to hide it, ignore it, or blame it on someone or something else, but it’s still there like a cancer in our hearts that will ultimately lead to our perishing or spiritual death.
”For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.“ (Romans 6:23)
Jesus is the Gift of God; the solution for our sin problem.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” (John 3:17-18)
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| “…they saw the child… and they bowed down and worshipped him.” (Matthew 2:11) |
And this is the crux of the Christmas message.
As Joseph was contemplating what to do about his pregnant betrothed, Mary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him to explain the incredible purpose of this miraculous pregnancy due to a child being conceived of the Holy Spirit to a virgin mother.
”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.” (Matthew 1:21)
By coming to earth as a child, living a perfect life, teaching and modelling righteousness, dying on the cross for our sins, raising to life, and ascending into Heaven, Jesus is our one and only way to eternal salvation (John 14:6).
Whoever believes in Jesus, acknowledges Him as their Saviour, and worships Him as their Lord will be saved from their sins. Jesus is the solution for our sin problem.
And so, each of us has a choice before us.
> Option 1
Live life with self-pride and in the absence of the fear and respect of God; flattering ourselves so much that we don’t even detect the sin in our lives and becoming more and more comfortable with it. This option leads to total misery due to the natural consequences of unconfessed sin and results in our perishing or spiritual death.
> Option 2
Live life with a humble heart and with a fear, respect, and reverence towards God. Acknowledge Jesus as Saviour and Lord. Pursue Him and then bow down and worship the Christ in the same way that the wealthy and powerful kings did when they followed the star to Jesus.
There is no in between.
> Option 1
Live life with self-pride and in the absence of the fear and respect of God; flattering ourselves so much that we don’t even detect the sin in our lives and becoming more and more comfortable with it. This option leads to total misery due to the natural consequences of unconfessed sin and results in our perishing or spiritual death.
> Option 2
Live life with a humble heart and with a fear, respect, and reverence towards God. Acknowledge Jesus as Saviour and Lord. Pursue Him and then bow down and worship the Christ in the same way that the wealthy and powerful kings did when they followed the star to Jesus.
There is no in between.
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| Rev. David Manuel with Jada |
My message for the Manuel Family this year and perhaps for you, friend:
Let’s not ride on the fumes of the God-honouring heritage that we have been gifted through the faithfulness of those who have gone ahead of us.
- Our humility before God
- The words of our mouths
- The actions that we take
- Committing to what is right
- Rejecting what is wrong
- The words of our mouths
- The actions that we take
- Committing to what is right
- Rejecting what is wrong
To God be all the glory!
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