Verse of the Day 12/25

Verse of the Day 12/25

Luke 2:11-12  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." 

 English Standard Version (ESV)

Merry Christmas everyone!  It is Christmas morning, gifts have been exchanged and their is joy in the household.  As Christians it is a day to celebrate the greatest gift.  Today's passage is a familiar one that we've probably read and heard several times this Christmas season, but the words that I'd like to focus on this morning are "unto you".  This gift is especially for you, God has prepared it for you and delivered it, Jesus went through a lot to bring it to completion and it is yours if you will accept it.   Once it is received it will never wear out, grow old or lose it's significance.

Pastor Greg Laurie writes, "No matter what happens in life, remember this: You have a Savior. As a Christian, you have been saved from death. You have been saved from eternal punishment and hell. You have the hope that when you die, you will go straight to heaven. That is the most important thing about the Christian life. There is a heaven waiting for you. You have a Savior".

I'm reminded of  my favorite line of any of the Christmas carols and hymns, from O Little Town of Bethlehem"; "the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight".

Whatever this past year has brought and whatever the next will bring, "unto you" was born, a Savior.  Turn to Him day by day in His Word and in prayer.

Oh little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth, the everlasting light
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary, and gathered all above
While mortals sleep the angels keep their watch of wondering love
Oh morning stars together, proclaim thy holy birth.
And praises sing to God the king, and peace to men on earth.

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

Luke 2:8-20 English Standard Version (ESV)

The Shepherds and the Angels

⁸ And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. ¹⁰ And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." ¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

¹⁴ "Glory to God in the highest,
    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"^[a]

¹⁵ When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." ¹⁶ And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.¹⁷ And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. ¹⁸ And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. ²⁰ And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.