WHAT DAY IS THIS? According the the Media of the Day in the United Kingdom, Christmas DAY is Turkey Day, and the Nation have been teased with the possibility of being UNABLE to see Turkey on their Christmas Dinner Table this year - due to Covid 19 - the constantly evolving 'flu-bug'. INDEED, the thought of going without Turkey is said by the Media to be a fate worse then DEATH itself. Certainly it may be considered, at the least, to be more important than the REAL reason for needing to EAT Turkey in the first place. I mean WHAT or WHO is being Celebrated and Remembered, as we chew and swallow the poor Turkey, (or maybe a lesser bird) year after year. If we FAIL to see the Bird on the Festive Table, will that NEGATE the Festival - even the very FEAST?
Matthew 2v2
'Where is he that is born King of the Jews?
For we have see his star i the east.
And we are come to worship him.
CHRISTMAS is a time to seek, and discover The Savour.
The Wise Men, or kings, from the East had spent much of their lives searching for the Saviour who would rule the world in Righteousness. They had been looking UP expecting some sign from the Heavens to announce His Coming. AND suddenly, one night a NEW and BRILLIANT star appeared, and they got up, and left their homes, and families, to follow that Star in the hope it would lead them to The Saviour.
The star would lead them to Israel, and to the City of Jerusalem. They had believed this would be the case from all they had learned from others who had read and studied to try and be ready to act when the Time was right. They believed the Saviour of the World would be a KING in Israel, and even the World. The 'king of kings, lord of lords', and that his NAME would be called 'Wonderful, Councilor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, AND that of the increase of government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgement and with justice for ever.'
AND SO they travelled, on donkey or camel, the Star guiding them by night through many weeks and months. And they took Gifts with them. Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh.
Jeremiah 29v13 says that when we set ourselves to seek and search for GOD, with all our heart/mind, then we shall find him. But we may find, along the way, that we seem to be going the wrong way, and feel confused enough to look for human help.
Having arrived in Jerusalem, the Wise Men, somehow ceased to look up to the Star that had led them so far, and went to the King's Palace, reasoning that if a King of Israel was to be born, it WOULD be in the Palace. They were wrong, and soon realised their mistake, and the danger they were in.
They left the Palace, and immediately sought the Star again, to lead and guide them, and it unerringly led them right to the place where the young Child was - even to JESUS.
And there they gazed upon Whom they had long sought and travelled so far to find.
And there they laid bare their 'treasures' their gifts, and laid them in front of this child, and in doing so presented their lives to Him.
GOLD - Representing God's ownership of all that they materially owned.
FRANKINCENSE - Representing their desire to worship God in all purity and holiness of life, in service to Him
MYRRH - Representing there recognition of Christ as the one to mediate for them to God,
and also as the One Who was to be God's Lamb of Sacrifice for the World on the Cross.
They bowed in front of him, taking in all that they saw, heard and felt of Him; feasting upon HIM and His Presense with them. They did not find the place decorated with tree and garlands, nor was there sumptuous food and drink to feast upon. All was very plain, very ordinary. ALL the focus was upon the Child born to be KING of their lives. HE filled their vision, their thought and their hunger for God.
THIS is what Christmas is meant to be all about. JESUS! Who He is, and why he was born in Bethlehem those many years ago. It IS about seeking, finding, and experiencing more about JESUS, our Saviour, Friend, and LORD
It is ALL about
Coming to Worship Him
+++++++++++
Dear friends and family
We do wish you all, even at such a time, and in the midst of so much temptation,
a VERY COVID FREE and Sustaining Feast
as you rest your eyes on the Babe of Bethlehem.
I will write finally this year to you all
on Christmas Eve.
Then just a brief Update on the past days,
and final blessing
Our much Love in Jesus to all who may read from us
John Esther, and Daryl Green
and all our co labourers, and all the children in or care
here, in Testimony Faith Homes, Kenya, East Africa
No comments:
Post a Comment