The Nugget:
John 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
My Comment:
The most important thing in this life is to be certain you have truly received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior!
John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
When Jesus came, the world “knew Him not.” The world today largely still does not know Him.
Make sure you personally know Him!
Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (KJV)
Joh 17:3 Now eternal life means knowing you as the only true God and knowing Jesus your messenger as Christ. (Williams New Testament)
I wrote a very thorough post about John 17:3. False cults and religions often quote this verse to “prove” that Jesus cannot be God and that the doctrine of the Trinity is not true. Understanding John 17:3 and context proves the exact opposite of such false claims!
Eternal life means establishing and remaining in a personal and growing, deepening relationship with both the Father and the Son by continuing to grow in grace through the regular reading and studying of God’s Word in the Bible, and growing in our obedience to that written Word.
Failure to experience on a continuing basis this relationship of personally knowing the Father and His Son brings upon ourselves a very dire consequence: If we do not know the Father through His Son, the Son will ultimately pronounce that He never knew us:
Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Make sure you have received Him!
Make sure you also receive others:
Rom 15:7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.
On this Christmas Day, be sure you are not holding grudges against anyone but rather extend love and forgiveness to others in your life and circle of contacts.
Was Jesus born on December 25?
Probably not.
But it is very possible that He was conceived in Mary’s womb on this very date, and born into this world as the man Christ Jesus nine months later, which would better fit the fact that shepherds were in their fields watching their flocks by night.
Luk 2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
Luk 2:9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
Luk 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
Luk 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
Luk 2:12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
Luk 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Luk 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Luk 2:15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
Luk 2:16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
There are many other significant Bible passages that pertain to the birth of Christ, especially in the Old Testament, including:
Mic 5:1 Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.
Mic 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Mic 5:3 Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.
Mic 5:4 And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.
Mic 5:5 And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men.
Mic 5:6 And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land, and when he treadeth within our borders.
The whole fifth chapter of Micah is of continuing relevance to Bible prophecy and worthy of your careful study.
Merry Christmas to all! May the joy of knowing that Christ is truly in your heart and life be your testimony this and every day.