Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭7‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

Merry Christmas...

"That there was no room in the inn was symbolic of what was to happen to Jesus. The only place where there was room for him was on a cross. He sought an entry to the over-crowded hearts of men; he could not find it; and still his search--and his rejection--go on."

William Barclay (1907-1978)

"Barclay's Daily Bible Study"

Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭7‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child. 

And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.

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John‬ ‭1‬:‭10‬-‭13‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.

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Matthew‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭12‬ ‭(NKJV‬‬)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

Merry Christmas...

"Their (The Wise Men) experience is a good lesson in finding the will of God: (1) they followed the light God gave them; (2) they confirmed their steps by the Word of God; and (3) they obeyed God without question and He led them each step of the way. Note that they went home by 'another way.'"

Warren Wiersbe (1929-2019)

Pastor, teacher and author 

Matthew‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭12‬ ‭(NKJV‬‬) Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” 

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 

So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’"

Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.” When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 

Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

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Matthew‬ ‭2‬:‭1-2, 9‬-‭11‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

Merry Christmas...

“Look for yourself and you will find loneliness and despair. But look for Christ and you will find Him and everything else.” 

C.S. Lewis (1898-1863)

British writer, literary scholar, and Anglican lay theologian

Matthew‬ ‭2‬:‭1-2, 9‬-‭11‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”

...the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭14‬-‭16‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.

Apostle John

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Romans‬ ‭6‬:‭23‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

Merry Christmas...

“The real message of Christmas is not the gifts that we give to each other. Rather, it is a reminder of the gift that God has given to each of us. It is the only gift that truly keeps on giving.”

Greg Laurie

Harvest Christian Fellowship 

Riverside, California 

Romans‬ ‭6‬:‭23‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

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Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

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“Unless we make Christmas an occasion to share our blessings, all the snow in Alaska won’t make it ‘white.”

Bing Crosby (1903-1977)

Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.

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John 1:14 (NLT)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

Merry Christmas...

“Whatever you may believe about it, the birth of Jesus was so important that it split history into two parts. Everything that has ever happened on this planet falls into a category of before Christ or after Christ.” 

Philip Yancey

John‬ ‭1‬:‭14‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

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Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭20‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)

FROM TODAY'S READING...

Merry Christmas...

“The angels heralded the birth of the Savior, John the Baptist heralded the coming of the Savior, and we herald the gospel of the Savior.”

Katy Kauffman

Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭20‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” 

Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” 

When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 

They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

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