Christmas in June

Luke 2:10-11 - Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

Okay. So it's one day short of six months from our celebrated birth of Christ. That was purely a coincidence as I read this this morning. While December 25 is probably not the actual date, the meaning behind His birth is.

I love the words...Do not be afraid...I bring you good tidings...for all people...Christ the Lord. Every day is a day to celebrate this time. Every day is a day when He can become those good tidings in the lives of anyone who makes the decision to receive Christ. Every day.

Jesus is alive. He still calls people to Himself through the Holy Spirit. Just like He came 2000 years ago to heal and bring hope to people, He still does today. There is a growing wickedness in the world. It gets worse each news broadcast. But...He is still calling. It may be He is calling a little louder. We need not fear what all goes on in this world with Him as the greatest part of our lives. There is hope and security in Christ, no matter what happens... We need not fear receiving Him either. 

Answering His call is only for good. I write to share these promises of God. What promises? Here are just a few: 

Forgiveness of sin

Spiritual healing

Fullness of joy

Life everlasting

He will never leave nor forsake us

Wisdom

Strength

Protection

The Bible is filled with so many more. His promises are yes and amen. In Him there is no shadow of turning. He cannot lie. Man's promises can be easily broken; they cannot offer a great future or any hope like His. 

I pray that the blind would see, the deaf would hear and hearts would be stirred and yielded that many more will one day hear the words, good and faithful servant. The days are growing fewer...we could very well be in the last days before His return. Or because our days are numbered and we do not know when our last day might be, we don't know if we will have even the chance to receive Him. Heaven is only rewarded to those who will confess their sin, turn to Christ and be obedient to Him. That should be a concern because the alternative is far from good. Today is a day to open your heart to Christ. 

When the time came for the arrival of Jesus, the Savior of the world, the angels rejoiced. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:13-14)  So there is rejoicing in heaven when one more person receives the Son. Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. (Luke 15:10)

There IS great joy in receiving Christ and the promise of heaven. Joy unspeakable and full of glory. (1Peter 1:8). What are you waiting for? You can rejoice, He will rejoice, and those angels will rejoice too! That’s a lot of rejoicing, a whole lot of joy!

Ephesians 2:4-7 - But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

The Lord Reigns

Psalm 96:10-13 - Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns; the world also is firmly established, it shall not be moved; He shall judge the peoples righteously.” Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and all its fullness; let the field be joyful, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice before the LORD. For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with His truth.

The Lord reigns! Let the earth rejoice. Let the people be glad that He reigns. Amen. This Psalm was read in church Sunday. It's an encouragement to those who know God. 

This Psalm, along with Psalm 97, tell us this truth, that our Lord reigns. The LORD reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad! (‭Psalms‬ ‭97‬:‭1)  No matter what we go through or see around us, He reigns. If we can get our heads around this truth we can be content. He reigns whether you believe it or not, whether you sense it or not. Greater still He reigns in the hearts of those who know Him. He brings comfort to them, even if an outcome isn't the best. If we know Him we know our future is secure and anything we go through here in this life is minuscule compared to our eternity. 

He will come to judge someday. There have been several predictions of His return which have not occurred, but He will return...in His own time. We are to be awaiting this return, not in fear but expectantly! In the meantime, we acknowledge He reigns. If we do not allow ourselves to be under His reign we will not have the great future He holds. 

So let the earth rejoice because He reigns! Let His people rejoice in all situations because He reigns.

If one is not comforted by this truth it might be time to believe it. It is a very good time to know this God. This God created each of us. ...You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. (‭Psalms‬ ‭139‬:‭13-14‬) Yes, He reigns. 

There is a purpose for each of us. Either it will be His purpose or your own. His way or yours. "‬For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." (‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭11)  There it is...a hope and a future. It's ours if we will know this God. He reigns and knows all things. If He reigns in your heart, you will want to be in His will. If He is not, you will do as your own will desires. "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says 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)  

The Lord reigns. 

Psalm 146:3,5-6,10 - Do not put your trust in princes, nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help. Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps truth forever... The LORD shall reign forever—your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD! 

Repent and Praise

Psalm 5:1-2 - Give ear to my words, O LORD, Consider my meditation. Give heed to the voice of my cry, My King and my God, for to You I will pray.

As I was praying this morning I thought about two important things we are to do...praise and repent.

I praise God He hears when we repent. He is not a God who cannot hear. Jesus is not a wooden or gold idol or representation of Himself. He is alive and with us, if we choose to know Him. He hears the repentant heart of believers and the repentant hearts of those who finally come to a place of needing Him for the first time. And He is a God who forgives, in an instant, those who ask for forgiveness the first time or many times throughout the day. 

My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up. (‭Psalms‬ 5‬:‭3‬)

Thank You, Lord, we can come daily to the throne of grace. For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, nor shall evil dwell with You. (‭Psalms‬ ‭5‬:‭4‬) It was mentioned last night, but certainly not for the first time, we are to come boldly to His throne to seek Him no matter what condition our hearts are in. He longs to hear us. He has to be an extremely patient God... But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth. (‭Psalm‬ ‭86‬:‭15)

But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy; in fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple. (‭Psalm‬ ‭5‬:‭7‬)

When we repent we can know He forgives...and forgives...and forgives. Isn't that something to praise Him for? He hears the prayers of His people. But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You. (‭Psalm 5‬:‭11‬)

I will choose to rejoice in Him today for all things. I will call on the name of the Lord. I will rest in His name and know that He has my back, He is my protector. He is my God! There's a lot to be joyful about. 

Psalm 5:12 - For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield.