The Chosen
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. -- For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. [Eph 1:3,4 -- Rom 8:29-30]
At the birth of Christ Jesus the first notice to the public was delivered to poor shepherds attending their flocks in the fields by night. Shepherds were considered the lowest of the low in society. People looked upon shepherds with disdain. Uneducated, unclean, smelly, uncouth, unsavory. Just a few of the impressions of the times in which the Immanuel would fulfill the great prophesy of His coming. The coming of the Great Shepherd.
Those living during the lifetime of the Christ probably had little grasp of the world impact over His spilled blood and horrible death. Not much has changed over the years as even today with all the technology available, we have large swaths of Christ deniers or to use today's vernacular; "Never Christers" who refuse to look beyond the end of their own noses to the miracle of the gift from the Creator of all. Jesus the Christ.
Consider the hugeness of what God offers to His creation by His love and through His Word and how little He asks in return. Simply that you believe, that you obey, and that you love.
Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. -- according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure. [Eze 36:26 -- 1Pe 1:2]
For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. -- But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. [1Th 4:7 -- 2Th 2:13-14]
As we celebrate the birth of the Savior, please utter a prayer of great thanksgiving to Almighty God for a love so grand, so wonderful that it is impossible for us to comprehend this side of eternity, AMEN.
HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?
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