LEARNING DAILY

Matthew 1:24, When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him….

Pastor Jonathon Moore continued his series this weekend about “The Arrival”. “When Jesus arrives on the scene, things change. His arrival is the arrival of the miraculous into human history, into our own story – our brokenness, our darkness, into the parts of our life that are so chaotic that nothing seems good. His arrival brings the hope into our hopelessness, and joy into our sadness. The Christmas movies all tell of the miraculous that happens on Christmas. Scrooge wakes up on Christmas day with a transformed heart. Clark gets his long-awaited Christmas bonus on Christmas day. Buddy, the Elf, is reunited with his dad in NYC on Christmas day. The Grinch’s heart is enlarged three times on Christmas day, and all the Hallmark movies end with the best possible outcome” (JM).

Pastor Moore said people at the time of Jesus’ birth were waiting on the Messiah, living in darkness, in deep need of a miracle – just like people today. “Christmas alone will not solve our situation, our issues; Christ will come and go, and we will still have issues. Santa will not solve them. Christmas brings miracles because Christmas brings Jesus!”

Pastor gave three Christmas miracles shown in the Matthew 1:18-21. First, he said, “God chooses you just like He chose Mary. Audrey wrote in her sermon notes, “She was average and normal, a young poor and unknown girl from a small unknown town.”  “Nothing about her stood out except to God. To Him she was a big deal; she was ‘highly favored’.” (JM). Mary was just like all of us today. “God still uses ordinary people for extraordinary purposes” (Audrey’s notes). John 15:16, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He may give it to you.” (ESV). Audrey wrote, “You may not feel worthy, ready, or qualified… but God has chosen you.” He has chosen you to bear fruit by sharing your story, just like Mary brought salvation into the world (JM).  Ephesians 1:4 adds, “Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes.” (NLT).

Secondly, Pastor Moore said, “God guides us just like He guided Joseph.” “In the midst of Joseph’s confusion and uncertainty, protecting him from making a mistake with the wrong decision” (AN). Let me say more on this point in the next page of the blog where I will make some comments on Joseph.

Pastor Moore’s last point was “God forgives you because the child became the Savior on the cross.” Sounds like the point Max Lucado was making at Community Bible Church. Matthew 1:21, “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." “We need a Savior. We do not need a life coach nor a mentor” (JM). John the Baptist introduced Jesus as the Lamb of God.” Up to this time sin had been dealt with an annual sacrifice. Jesus, the Lamb of God came to die in our place; “He came to pay the price that would bring us to His Father. Jesus wants to invade your life to save you (JM), and to keep you on the narrow path into His eternal kingdom.

I pray you keep that at the front of your mind and heart not only during this Christmas season but each day of the coming year.