When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Matthew 9:11
Jesus answered and said to them, those who are well have no need of a physician but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Luke 5: 31-32
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law. Galatians 4:4
“The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!” Matthew 1:15
And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7
My brothers and sisters in Christ, there was no room in the inn for the Christ-child. Is there any room in your heart for him? Let’s prepare a home in our hearts where Jesus may abide; for heart wherein Jesus dwells, lives, hope, joy, peace and love.
“The First Noel, the Angels did say, was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay, in fields where they lay keeping their sheep, on a cold winter’s night that was so deep. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, born is the King of Israel!” Praise Him!
Lord, we are so thankful that you sent us Noel, we will praise him, we will adore him, because he is worthy. He came to save us, to give us new life but we must receive him. May we always know that He is with us, and will lead us as we follow the great light. Help us Lord, as we try to follow in His footsteps and be obedient to His every word. All this we ask in your precious name. Amen!
“While shepherd watched their flocks by night all seated on the ground, the angel of the Lord came down and glory shone around. Fear not, said he for mighty dread had seized their troubled mind, glad tidings of great joy I bring to you and all mankind.” Have you received the good news? I sure did.
“To you, in David’s town, this day, is born of David’s line, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord; and this shall be the sign. The heavenly babe you there shall find, to human view displayed, all simply wrapped in swaddling clothes and in a manger laid.” We have so much to celebrate. Rejoice! The King has come!
Today the world is receiving the Savior of mankind, joy to all the world! Oh, come, let us adore him! Merry Christmas to all of you, and best wishes from our house to your house.
“Joy to the world! the Lord is come; let earth receive her King; let every heart prepare him room, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven, and heaven, and nature sing. Joy to the world! the Savior reigns; let men their songs employ; while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains, repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy, repeat, repeat the sounding joy.”
“O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel, shall come to thee, O Israel.”
Lord, we thank you, for sending us a Savior who will rescue us from the depths of hell, if only we would receive him. Throughout the Advent season, we have been preparing for such a time as this. “O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free Thine own from Satan’s tyranny; from depths of hell Thy people save, and give them victory o’er the grave. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel, shall come to thee, O Israel.”
The First Noel, the Angels did say, was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay, in fields where they lay keeping their sheep, on a cold winter’s night that was so deep. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, born is the King of Israel!
Heavenly Father, just as the Shepherds looked up and saw the star that led them to that lowly manger in Bethlehem, may we too look up to You, our Savior, and be guided. So many still continue to walk in darkness when they could be walking in your marvelous light. Use us Lord, as beacons to show them the way.
“Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plains, and the mountains in reply, echoing their joyous strains. Gloria, in excelsis Deo, Gloria, in excelsis Deo.”
“Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains prolong? What the gladsome tidings be, which inspire your heavenly song? Come to Bethlehem and see, Him whose birth the angels sing, come, adore on bended knee, Christ the Lord, the newborn King. Gloria, in excelsis Deo, Gloria, in excelsis Deo.”
“Away in a manger, no crib for his bed, the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head; the stars in the heavens looked down where he lay, the little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.”
My brothers and sisters in Christ, Jesus came into this world in humble dwellings, there was no room for him in the inn, and I believe God designed it in this way as an example to us. As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, let us not be too worried about the homes we live in, but humbly prepare a home in our hearts for Jesus, where he may dwell always.