The Christ of Christmas

Shirley Wiggins

 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel” (which means ‘God with us’).”  Matthew 1:23.

“This is how God showed His love among us:  He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him.  This is love:  not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”  1 John 4:9-11.

“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.  We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”  John 1:14.

 

Christmas morning, 2021.  The world has a Savior – Rejoice, World!  Your Savior has come.  Rejoice.  Renew your hope!  Help has arrived.

When I consider the world-wide human suffering, I could become overwhelmed with sorrow.

When I remember the reason for the desperate need of a Savior, such a small word represents the reason:  S - I – N.  Sin.  All the harm that has been done, and all the good that has been withheld is summed up in that one three-letter word:  sin.

All the good that can be done, and all the harm that can be avoided will be found in another three-letter word:  S – O – N.  Son.  The Son of God, the One and Only.  The  reason for the rejoicing and the renewing is found in the world’s one and only hope:  Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of Man.

“Long lay the world in sin and error pining…”  “O Holy Night, the stars are brightly shining, It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth.  Long lay the world in sin and error pining, Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.  The thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn…”

Oh, how we need to experience anew the soul-deep “thrill of hope” in our world today!

We must not refuse to acknowledge and confess our own individual part in the harm that has been done, and the good that has been withheld in the world down through the years past.  May we each repent with godly sorrow and, then, may we each take hold of the grace offered for the saving of our souls, rejoicing in the salvation of the Son of God.

“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.  He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.  This is a trustworthy saying.  And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good.  These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.”  Titus 3:4-8.

May we go forth, each of us in our place and time, reminding the world around us that God is with us!

“This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you:  God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.  If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.  But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.  If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word is not in us.”  1 John 1:5-10.

Because of Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior, our tomorrows hold Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness – and Self-Control.   “Against such things there is no law.  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.  Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”  See Galatians 5: 22-26.

“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”  Galatians 6:10.

“This is how we know what love is:  Jesus Christ laid down His life for us.  And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.  If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?  Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.  This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence:  If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything.  Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from Him anything we ask, because we keep His commands and do what pleases Him.  And this is His command:  to believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as He commanded us.  The one who keeps God’s commands lives in Him, and He in them.  And this is how we know that He lives in us:  We know it by the Spirit He gave us.”  1 John 3: 16-24.

We shall then rejoice in the love and goodness of the Lord, our God, the Father of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.

We shall overcome evil with good.  See Romans 12:21.

“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”  2 Corinthians 13:14. 

Merry Christmas

And

Happy New Year!!

What's In a Name?

by Hallie Gipson

Merriam Webster defines the word 'Name' when used as a noun, a verb and an adjective. Definitions include:

Noun

• a word or phrase that constitutes the distinctive designation of a person or thing
• a word or symbol used in logic to designate an entity

in the name of

• by authority of
• for the reason of

Verb

named; naming

transitive verb

• to give a name to
• to mention or identify by name
• to mention explicitly

Adjective

• of, or relating to, or bearing a name
• having an established reputation

 

In A.W. Tozer's book, “The Knowledge of the Holy”, he tell us that “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” 

So what do we think about the Triune God? Do we honor Him as high and Holy? Is our worship of Him fitting because He is the ‘name above all names’? And do we exalt Him as the only Name through which we can be saved?

God’s names and attributes as we know them are the sum of who He is as described in His Word. Of course, we can never completely know Him, or adequately describe Him. Our descriptions of who He is are feeble at best. Why? Because we are finite and He is infinite. He is high and holy, we are not. He is God of all creation, the Potter, and we are the clay. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9) So whatever we can say or think about God is but a drop in the bottomless ocean of who He is.

When God speaks to man, He identifies Himself as he did to the prophet Isaiah. “I am the Lord, that is my name.” (Isaiah 42:8)

Scripture also tells us that God acts, or is entreated to act, “For His name’s sake.”

·       Psalm 23:3 “He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”

·         Psalm 25:11 “For your name’s sake, O Lord, Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.”

·         Psalm 31:3 “. . . For Your name’s sake You will lead me and guide me.”

·         Psalm 79:9 “Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name.”

·         Psalm 106:8 “Nevertheless He saved them for the sake of His name”.

·         Psalm 143:11 “For the sake of Your name, O Lord, revive.”

·         Isaiah 48:11 “For my own sake, for My own sake, I will act; For how can my name be profaned.”

 

Men of the Bible who had an encounter with God wanted to know “What is His name?” (Exodus 3:13)

This was Moses’ question when he was speaking with God at the burning bush. God had given him a mission to free His people from bondage to Pharaoh in Egypt. “Therefore, come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh, so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.” (Exodus 3:10) . . . “Then Moses said to God, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; (Exodus 3:14) God, furthermore, said to Moses . . . This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations.”  (Exodus 3:15)

When Saul was converted on the way to Damascus he “fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting . . .” (Acts 9:4-5)

Jesus prayed to the Father for His disciples – that they would be ‘kept’ in His name:

“. . . Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are.”  (John 17:11)

In the book of John written by the Apostle John, who was a disciple of Christ and an eye witness to Jesus’ ministry, we are given the main reason John wrote his account:

“Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.”  John 20:30-31

In the account of the arrest of Peter and John in Acts 2, Peter is giving a Spirit-filled answer about healing a sick man. His audience is the rulers, elders, and scribes who asked “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?” The last statement of Peter’s reply leaves no doubt about the name that saves:

“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”  Acts 4:12

Why is Jesus’ name so high and exalted and who bestowed this title of honor on Him?

“. . . God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow . . . and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  Philippians 2:9-11

 

In Revelation 21 and 22 we are given a glimpse of the New Heaven and Earth: There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.”  Rev. 22:3-5

“The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.”  Revelation 22:17

Come to Jesus today!! He is the only Name that can save and the Name worthy of all our praise!

She Shall Be Called Woman

She Shall Be Called Woman

Re-posted from 2012 

By Shirley M. Wiggins

“Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.’  … So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place.  The Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man.  The man said, ‘This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.’  For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.”  Genesis 2:18, 21-24 (NASB).

Thank You for the memories, Jesus; I see her now:

Petite and slender,  she was a lady in every sense of the word with her black hair, long and straight,  drawn tightly in a neat bun on the back of her head,  My grandmother, seated at the piano down front at the little white-frame church,  teaching me as a little girl to play, “Are You Washed In the Blood?”

I’ve seen this picture in my mind’s eye several times before. Often it’s during a Sunday evening service as we are singing that precious old song.

This particular time was several years ago on the last Sunday of the cold month of January.  I was sitting with my dearly loved friends at my current home church and as we began to sing, the tears sprang to my eyes with a sharp stinging pain that caused my mouth to tremble in spite of my efforts to gain control over my emotions.

There was a sudden intense longing to see her again and a sudden strong yearning to have my husband, children, and grandchildren gathered around me singing and worshiping together.

How clearly I could see her:  That sweet, small-in-stature lady with the soft velvety dark hair and eyes, always wearing a smile, always with a warm word of good humor and encouragement on her lips.   She had a softly crinkled beautiful face, and work-worn hands that brought forth such beautiful and worshipful music from the keys of that old  church piano. 

Did she ever have a piano of her own?  Oh, how I wish I could hear her talk to me again!  I have so many questions I would ask!

I never heard that gentle woman say a harsh, angry word to anyone or about anyone, nor ever a critical or complaining word.  So many people told us they’d never known her to speak an unkind word about anyone.

How did she do that, I asked the Lord again.    How did she keep from ever speaking ‘a discouraging word’ or a complaining word?   She experienced some of life’s harsh and hard circumstances while on this earth.

And she surely must have had plenty of worries as a wife, mother, mother-in-law, and grandmother.  If any woman ever seemed to have plenty of reason to fret, fear and faint, it seemed to me that she did, just because of the times in which she lived.

But, I never saw any fretting, fearing, or fainting; nor have I ever heard about any from others who knew her.  What I did see, though, even as a young girl myself, was a courageous woman who had a heart full of love and concern for her family and for others in her community.

I’ve wondered a lot about whom she might would have talked to and with about everyday life issues, and have also wondered if she had a close woman-friend that she could confide in.  Or did she take all those concerns straight to the Lord Himself?

She apparently married the love of her life at a young age.  Sometime later in life Papa’s  farm wagon overturned breaking one of his legs, leaving him in pain for many years.  Near the end of his life he was bedridden and my grandmother patiently and lovingly tended his needs night and day until he passed away.

They had four sons and one daughter. Their only daughter married at a young age and died soon after at the age of 18; thirty-four years before my grandmother’s own death at the age of 76.

I am so thankful to the Lord for honoring what I was told had been her desired hope when the time came for her heavenly Father to call her Home.  She hoped to go to sleep one night and wake up in heaven and we were told that was exactly the way her departure seemed to have happened!

As was her custom, on that particular evening she had gone next door to spend the night with her friends who were the other grandparents of two of her own granddaughters.  Early every morning she would get up and slip quietly out to return to her own home.

But, not that early dawn – it was discovered that she had passed quietly away sometime in the night, apparently very peacefully in her sleep.  Her dark hair resting neatly on  her pillow showed no evidence that she had ever even turned over in the bed that night.

She was a woman who sacrificed and did without untold creature comforts of her own so that she could give to others.  She had the most generous heart and giving to her family made her happy.

I praise and thank the dear Lord for this wonderful woman who had such an impact on my young life that her life remains to this day such an important part of my family memories.  I am so grateful for all the years that our family had with her.

I also thank Him for another special day when He brought her lovely face to my mind’s eye.  I was reading Proverbs 31:26-27** in my Amplified Bible and the image of her face was so vivid that I wrote her name in the margin beside those verses as a memorial to her.

Thank You for the memories, Jesus!  I love You!

May each of us, daughters of Eve and sisters- in- Christ Jesus, our Lord, have as our hearts’ desire, to be as  godly as the women  we read about in God’s Word, especially here in 

Proverbs 31:10-31. 

 

 Please be sure to read the Footnotes following the Scripture below for valuable and insightful information about some of the women in the Bible.

^{Proverbs 31: Amplified Bible:  10}A capable, intelligent, and ^[b]virtuous woman--who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls.

    ¹¹The heart of her husband trusts in her confidently and relies on and believes in her securely, so that he has no lack of [honest] gain or need of [dishonest] spoil.

    ¹²She comforts, encourages, and does him only good as long as there is life within her.

    ¹³She seeks out wool and flax and works with willing hands [to develop it].

    ¹⁴She is like the merchant ships loaded with foodstuffs; she brings her household's food from a far [country].

    ¹⁵She rises while it is yet night and gets [spiritual] food for her household and assigns her maids their tasks.

    ¹⁶She considers a [new] field before she buys or accepts it [expanding prudently and not courting neglect of her present duties by assuming other duties]; with her savings [of time and strength] she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard. [S. of Sol. 8:12.]

    ¹⁷She girds herself with strength [spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given task] and makes her arms strong and firm.

    ¹⁸She tastes and sees that her gain from work [with and for God] is good; her lamp goes not out, but it burns on continually through the night [of trouble, privation, or sorrow, warning away fear, doubt, and distrust].

    ¹⁹She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

    ²⁰She opens her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her filled hands to the needy [whether in body, mind, or spirit].

    ²¹She fears not the snow for her family, for all her household are doubly clothed in scarlet.

    ²²She makes for herself coverlets, cushions, and rugs of tapestry. Her clothing is of linen, pure and fine, and of purple [such as that of which the clothing of the priests and the hallowed cloths of the temple were made].

    ²³Her husband is known in the [city's] gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.

    ²⁴She makes fine linen garments and leads others to buy them; she delivers to the merchants girdles [or sashes that free one up for service].

    ²⁵Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure; she rejoices over the future [the latter day or time to come, knowing that she and her family are in readiness for it]!

    ²⁶She opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness [giving counsel and instruction].

    ²⁷She looks well to how things go in her household, and the bread of idleness (gossip, discontent, and self-pity) she will not eat.**

    ²⁸Her children rise up and call her blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied); and her husband boasts of and praises her, [saying],

    ^29[c] Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well [with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness], but you excel them all.

    ³⁰Charm and grace are deceptive, and beauty is vain [because it is not lasting], but a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, she shall be praised!

    ³¹Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates [of the city]!

Footnotes:

1. Proverbs 31:2 It is important to the purpose of this invaluable chapter that one realizes that it is first of all intended for young men. It is the mother's God-given task to provide youth with this information directly from its inspired source, letting them grow up with it in their consciousness.
2. Proverbs 31:10 It is most unfortunate that this description of God's ideal woman is usually confined in readers' minds merely to its literal sense--her ability as a homemaker, as in the picture of Martha of Bethany in Luke 10:38-42. But it is obvious that far more than that is meant. When the summary of what makes her value "far above rubies" is given (in Prov. 31:30), it is her spiritual life only that is mentioned. One can almost hear the voice of Jesus saying, "Mary has chosen the good portion... which shall not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:42).
3. Proverbs 31:29 "Many daughters have done... nobly and well... but you excel them all." What a glowing description here recorded of this woman in private life, this "capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman" of Prov. 31! It means she had done more than Miriam, the one who led a nation's women in praise to God (Exod. 15:20, 21); Deborah, the patriotic military advisor (Judg. 4:4-10); Ruth, the woman of constancy (Ruth 1:16); Hannah, the ideal mother (I Sam. 1:20; 2:19); the Shunamite, the hospitable woman (II Kings 4:8-10);  Huldah, the woman who revealed God's secret message to national leaders (II Kings 22:14); and even more than Queen Esther, the woman who risked sacrificing her life for her people (Esth. 4:16). In what way did she "excel them all"? In her spiritual and practical devotion to God, which permeated every area and relationship of her life.  All seven of the Christian virtues (II Pet. 1:5) are there, like colored threads in a tapestry. Her secret, which is open to everyone, is the Holy Spirit's climax to the story, and to this book.  In Prov. 31:30, it becomes clear that the "reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord," which is "the beginning (the chief and choice part) of Wisdom" (Prov. 9:10), is put forth as the true foundation for a life which is valued by God and her husband as "far above rubies or pearls" (Prov. 31:10).

From THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE®                 Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation; page 733.

 

SNOW

by Hallie Gipson

(this article is a repost from several years ago, but being in the midst of a winter storm has caused me to meditate again on God's wonderful provision through Christ for our sins to become "white as snow".)

Has it ever happened while you are reading a passage from God’s word that it suddenly takes on a meaning or connection to another passage(s) that you haven’t seen or thought of before? That very thing occurred to me this morning as I watched the snow fall, covering everything in sight in a beautiful blanket of white.

As I began to think about the snow and God’s creation of it, I thought of the verses in the Bible that speak about the snow and realized I could not easily recall them to mind . . . and so the search began.

Psalm 147:16

“He gives snow like wool; He scatters the frost like ashes. He casts forth His ice as fragments; who can stand before His cold?”

Matthew Henry’s commentary on this particular verse begins by saying:  “In general, whatever alterations there are in this lower world (and it is that world that is subject to continual changes) they are produced by the will, and power, and providence of God.” And he continues – “snow . . . is compared to wool for its whiteness, and its softness; it falls silently, and makes no more noise than the fall of a lock of wool; it covers the earth and keeps it warm like a fleece of wool, and so promotes its fruitfulness.”

What a beautiful reminder that God’s providence is in all things – even the snowfall! And in the continuing cycle of God’s purpose, the end result is the earth’s fruitfulness.

A portion of 2 Samuel 23 is devoted to “the names of the mighty men whom David had” (vs. 8).  We are told in verse 20 that “Then Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in the middle of a pit on a snowy day.”

Snow was certainly not a deterrent or inconvenience for one of King David’s mighty men! As I apply that to myself, some honest soul-searching is required. Do I allow small inconveniences to keep me from a task God might have for me, or at the least, to dampen my resolve to finish well?

As I continued my search through Scripture for references to snow, I discovered Job 37:6, Job 38:22, and Proverbs 26:1.

But when I found the reference to snow in Isaiah 55:10-11, the larger picture of God’s plan of redemption began to jump from the verses right into my heart! The threads of the Old Testament are like gold in a tapestry that is woven right into the New Testament in a seamless design.

Isaiah 55:10-11

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes out from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, but shall accomplish that which I purpose and shall succeed in that thing for which I sent it.”

In the New Testament:

John 1:1, 4, 10

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God . . . In Him was life . . . He was in the world . . .”  (Isaiah 55:11 – “so shall My word be”)

John 6:33, 35

“For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven and gives life to the world.”

“Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life’. (Isaiah 55:10 – “bread to the eater”)

John 3:24

“For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God . . .” (Isaiah 55:11 – “so shall My word be that goes out from My mouth . . .”)

John 4:24

“Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.’  (Isaiah 55:11 – “it shall not return to Me empty, but shall accomplish that which I purpose . . .”)

And finally:

Hebrews 1:1-4

“God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,”  (Isaiah 55:11 – “and shall succeed in that thing for which I sent it.”)

Thank you, Father, for Your Word, the insight given by the Holy Spirit that enables understanding, and for Jesus Christ! Without His finished work on the cross, our sins could never be “as white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18).