What do we do now?

After the weeks of buildup and anticipation, the Christmas celebration can feel like a culmination and closure of the season we celebrate. Is this what the first celebrants did? After that wonder-filled night, life indeed continued for Mary and Joseph, and the shepherds returned to their sheep in the fields, but the celebration was far from over. In fact, the celebration has continued throughout the years. So, what do we do now?

We imitate the response of the first faithful witnesses of that first Christmas night. As we read Luke's account, he tells us of two important ways to keep the celebration going — we treasure the story and proclaim the news! Like Mary, we ponder the wonderful fulfillment of thousands of years of promises and anticipation of the coming Messiah. We reflect on the perfect life, suffering, death, and resurrection of that Savior in the manger. We hold on to the amazing faith that God has given us to trust in this Savior. And like the shepherds, we proclaim the good news of a Savior for all! The message of Christmas was not isolated to the residents of Bethlehem, to Israel, or even to that time and place. It is for all people. God gives us the privilege of glorifying and praising Him both now and always as we continue to celebrate Christmas!

We need Christmas.

We don't need the festive music, the feel-good atmosphere of the season or the break from our busy schedules. We need Christmas for a far more important reason: we need a Savior.

The humble happenings of that first Christmas night remind us that Jesus humbled himself by entering our world. The incredible and stunning proclamation of the heavenly host reminds us that this baby was no ordinary child. The Savior of the world, the Prince of Peace, the Lion of Judah, our gracious and loving God had entered our sin-filled world to take that sin upon himself. The peace of that first Christmas would turn to agony, pain, and suffering as the King of Kings donned a crown of thorns and hung on the cross. But the tomb could not hold our loving Savior, who burst out in glorious victory, bringing peace, forgiveness, and new life in Him. We need Christmas, and what a joy to know that the story is true!

The impossible took place when Gabriel first announced the imminent arrival of the Messiah to a young woman named Mary. She — a virgin — would conceive and give birth. "How can this be?" wondered the woman. "The power of the Most High will overshadow you," explained the angel. The son born to Mary would be called the Son of God.

"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." responded Isaiah the prophet. As he stood before King Ahaz of Judah, Isaiah reprimanded the king and the entire nation of Judah for their rebellion and refusal to obey the Lord their God. The Lord would surely give a sign to the nation — a sign that would display the power, glory, and all-surpassing love of God. The Messiah would come, impossibly conceived in the womb of a virgin, the Word made flesh, God with us, to redeem a sinful world to its Creator.

Witness again the impossible Sign lying in the manger. The very God who has loved us from before the creation of the world took on flesh to live, die, and rise again to bring us life. Marvel at the Sign that Isaiah prophesied — the impossible made possible!

As God had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, their descendants grew to an astonishing number. Their family tree had too many branches to count. But only one branch was the fulfillment of the greatest promise ever made — only one branch was truly righteous.

Jeremiah lived during a time of widespread rebellion and disregard for God and His Word. Nicknamed "the wailing prophet", he had plenty to lament over as the nation of Judah finally met its destruction and captivity at the hands of the Babylonians. Amidst these dark and dreadful days, however, Jeremiah prophesied hope for the people of Judah. God would still send a Righteous Branch from the line of King David. The Messiah, the Savior, was still a sure and certain hope for the future.

This Righteous Branch is the baby lying in the manger. The only perfect and truly righteous branch on the family tree of Israel is the answer to the deadly problem of sin. The Righteous Branch came to collect the dead, rotting branches of a world of sinners and to pay the price for all their rebellion and sin. The Righteous Branch came to make us righteous.

This Advent, we continue to marvel at the undeserved love our God showed us in the manger, on the cross, and in the empty tomb. We stand in awe at the promise fulfilled, swaddled and lying in a manger, and together with the prophet Jeremiah proclaim, "The LORD is our righteousness!"

We don't often picture our Savior as a grand and powerful lion, but in both Genesis and Revelation, Jesus is called the Lion of the tribe of Judah.

When Jacob (also called Israel) was nearing death, he prophesied about his many sons. One of those sons was named Judah, from whose descendants the Savior of the world would eventually be born. In this prophecy, Jacob used the picture of a lion and a powerful ruler who would command the obedience of the nations — a clear picture of our victorious King, Jesus.

The small and gentle baby who rested in the manger on Christmas night was neither weak nor insignificant. He was (and still is!) the Lion of Judah, the Word made flesh, the eternal Son of God who humbled himself for our sake. He is the prophecy fulfilled whose love shone brightly as he suffered on the cross. He is the almighty God who rose victorious on the third day, assuring us of sins forgiven and salvation through faith in Him. He is the powerful, victorious and praiseworthy King of all. He is our Savior!

The hope we enjoy during the season of Advent was first felt long before the shepherds heard the angels sing, long before Elizabeth marveled at the child in Mary's womb, long before Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Micah prophesied about the coming King. The hope of Advent was first heard from God's own mouth shortly after sin entered the world.

It did not take long for Adam and Eve to choose their own desires and will above that of their loving God. Enticed by the crafty lies of the serpent, they abandoned the perfect relationship they enjoyed with God, bringing sin, death, and sadness into God's perfect creation. But God gave them Hope. Right there in the Garden of Eden, God proclaimed His very first promise to sinful mankind — A Savior WILL come.

As we enter another Advent season to prepare our hearts for the coming King, let us keep our eyes fixed on God's incredible promises. The promised King indeed has come — Hope for all!

Every year family and friends get together to give thanks. As Christians, we understand that the abundance of blessings we have comes from our Father in heaven! Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to focus on God's providence, but there's more to it than a lengthy list of blessings.

Thanksgiving is just one of countless moments and days throughout our lives when we have the privilege and joy to give thanks to our God. Every day is a gift of God's grace and an opportunity to give thanks to the Lord for his goodness, mercy, and love. The love that sent a Savior to our broken and sinful world. The love that cried, "It is finished" from the cross. The love that walked out of the tomb on Easter morning, crushing sin, death, and the power of the devil. The love that called us to be His own. This Thanksgiving, let us continue to sing praises to our God for His faithful love!

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. — Psalm 107:1

The words of Revelation are awe-inspiring. They are also sometimes confusing. Even as the apostle John received this spectacular vision, one thing was very clear — this was from God. In today's lesson, an angel tells John the clear and basic truth of this book: Jesus wins!

"These words are trustworthy and true," spoke the angel. The comfort John received from the angel is the same comfort we have: these are the very words of God. Through several chapters of visions and wonderful imagery, God communicates to us the simple truths of the Gospel. Jesus wins! — Heaven is our Home — Christ is coming back to take us there!

Is the term "Judgment Day" a bit unsettling? Does the idea of Jesus' return make you slightly nervous?

In his second letter to the Thessalonians, Paul reminds them of the confidence they have as they anticipate the last day with great excitement! As Christians who held onto the words and promises of God, the Thessalonians were prepared for Christ's return and through faith, we are too!

While we live here on this earth, we WAIT and we WATCH, knowing that one day we will SEE our Savior with our own eyes and be welcomed into eternal glory because of the wonderful sacrifice He made for us. Just wait! Just watch! You'll see!

For God so loved the world...

These well-known words from John's Gospel are simple, yet simply profound. In the clearest way, John records for us the amazing truth of God's gift of grace — his one and only Son.

As we celebrate Baptism Sunday, the words of Jesus to a curious Pharisee remind us of the simple truth of God's grace. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. Through baptism, God claims wretched sinners as His own, washing them in the blood of the Son who was lifted up. We have been given new life... one that will last into eternity! God be praised for this incredible gift!