Author: ObtainingMercy

(A Countdown to Jesus’ Birthday)

On the ninth day of nativity – God provided wealth, well in advance of their need.

When Jesus was born, His star settled over His humble birthplace. That was when God brought His birth to the attention of men who lived very, very far away. That night, they began a long, nearly-two-year journey to worship the Christ child.

Matthew 2:1-2 “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.”

Along with their joyous and humble worship, the wise men also brought costly gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. While these were representative of the life, death and ministry of Christ, they were also a financial blessing from God.

As soon as the wise men left, Joseph, Mary and Jesus began their journey into Egypt, where they lived until the death of Herod. That journey, as well as their housing, provisions, clothing, and animals for the next several years would have, no doubt, been financed by those wonderful gifts from the wise men.

How good is our God?!! I may be facing a need 2 years from now for which He is right now making provision. Even more poignant is the thought that I may have a need today for which He provided 2 years ago, or perhaps even further back than that!

Our God sees the end from the beginning. Time is laid out before Him like a scroll and He sees all of our lives, intertwined and separate, our birth to our death, in one sweeping glance.

We can trust Him to meet every need. No matter how quickly our crisis arrives, it does not catch the Eternal One by surprise!

Philippians 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

(A Countdown to Jesus’ Birthday)

On the eight day of nativity – God provided other women to assure Mary of God’s plan.

Women thrive on community much more than men do. Relationships are very important to us. And our God knows that, because He is the one Who made us that way.

So, in His kindness, He sent not one woman to provide comfort to Mary’s heart, but two.

The first was her cousin, Elizabeth.

Luke 1:42-45 “And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.”

What sweet words of assurance to the fragile, wondering, fearful heart of Mary.

The second woman to give encouragement to Mary was Anna.

Luke 2:38 “And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”

Anna’s words confirmed again all that the angels had said to Joseph and Mary.

No matter how much faith we have in God’s promises to us, it is always a blessing to have a word of encouragement from another woman who understands.

God is faithful to meet the spiritual and physical needs we have, but He is also so kind to meet the emotional needs of our heart, as well.

Be sure to surround yourself with women who know the Lord, who believe as you do, but more importantly, who believe the Word of God.

They will provide encouragement and leadership, and will be an example to you. Often, they also have a shoulder to cry on, or a voice of praise and confirmation of the work that God is doing in your life.

Life is too short to surround yourself with snarky, negative people. Find those who lift up others with their words and who remind you of the goodness of God in your life.

(A Countdown to Jesus’ Birthday)

On the seventh day of nativity – God provided confirmation of His promise to Jesus’ parents.

Joseph and Mary had 9 months to get used to the idea of her giving birth to the Christ child.

Yet as those months slowly passed for them, I’m sure they must have wondered within themselves, and probably aloud to each other, just how it would all be brought to pass.

Afterward, as the emotions of childbirth flooded Mary, she pondered everything in her heart, kept her own counsel; but she must have had a moment or two of wondering if she had remembered correctly everything the angel said to her, if her son would truly be great and would be the Deliverer of Israel.

Just a short time later, as they went into the temple to offer up a sacrifice for the birth of their son, God sent Simeon to confirm all that the angel had told Mary and Joseph.

Luke 2:25-32 “And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,
Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.”

How merciful God is to send us reassurance when we most need it.

Has the Lord given you a promise? Has He whispered some truth into your heart as you read His Word and meditated on His Scriptures.

If so, don’t doubt His Word. If He promised it, He will perform it.

And, I have no doubt that He will give further assurances and confirmations of His promise to you, just as He did to Joseph and Mary.

II Corinthians 1:20 “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.”

(A Countdown to Jesus’ Birthday)

On the sixth day of nativity – God provided messengers to share the story of His Son.

A little over two thousand years ago, those messengers were angels.

However, as soon as the message was passed to the shepherds, they became the carriers of the glorious good news of Christ’s birth.

Luke 2:17-18 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

Since that first dramatic delivery, the message of Christ has been given to us to share.  We are now the messengers of His wonderful story that goes so much farther than the dramatic, yet simple scene that night long ago in Bethlehem.

We are the carriers of the story of His death and resurrection, as well as His birth. He has entrusted His story of salvation to us.  If we don’t share it, who will?      

Romans 10:13-15 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”

At this time of year, we love to retell the story of the angelic messengers, but we have the privilege and responsibility to share Christ’s story all year long.

How will we give out His glorious message of atonement today?

(A Countdown to Jesus’ Birthday)

On the fifth day of nativity – God provided a star, a sign and a song to show the way to His Son.

God’s plan was no secret.

He set a star in the heavens to show the way.

He sent an angel to announce it.

He told the shepherds where the Baby would be found and what He would be wrapped in.

Then He orchestrated a song of praise by an angelic host.

God wants you to know His Son! It is His greatest desire.

As we celebrate the birth of the Christ child, I pray that YOU know the CHRIST!

What a shame it would be if you knew all about the baby Jesus of Christmas, but you’d never met the Saviour of the World Who died on the cross to save you from your sins.

Jesus came as a baby, lived a perfect life, and died to pay the penalty for our sins. Then He was buried, but rose again three days later.

It is up to us to accept His gift of forgiveness and salvation from Hell. When we turn to Him in surrender and choose to trust Him to take us to Heaven when we die, we are assured a home with Him forever.

Hebrews 7:25-26 “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens”

Jesus saved us by living a life we couldn’t live and dying a death that we deserved to die.

Have you received Him today?

(A Countdown to Jesus’ Birthday)

On the third day of nativity – God provided angelic announcers when the world took no notice.

Luke 2:13-14 – “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

Joseph and Mary were all alone while waiting on the arrival of the Lord. No one knew Mary was laboring while Joseph was preparing a place for Jesus to arrive, making sure all the physical needs were met to the best of his ability. There was no fanfare for their sacrifice, their willingness to be used by God, the humble and righteous lives they led to even be blessed with this holy task.

And Jesus was born just like every baby had ever been born before Him. There was nothing special that brought the attention of the town or the visitors there to pay their taxes. His birthplace was humble and his birth unnoticed.

It is very common for the world to completely miss or ignore the work of God. And along with that, they also miss those who do the work of God.

Occasionally, even the people of God are so caught up in their own lives that they don’t see those who are doing the work all around them.

In your service for the Lord, don’t concern yourself with being seen and noticed by man. Most of the time, people do not notice or understand the sacrifice we make to serve the Lord. They cannot see our heart or know our motives.

We will, in most cases, not receive applaus for our service to the Lord.

But God knows.

He sees our sacrifice. He treasures our work. And He will reward it in His good time.

When you feel that no one notices, remember the Heavenly Host that is looking down on us; and rejoice with them that the work of God is being accomplished here on earth.

Matthew 6:6 – “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”