The kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared.
You, Father God, have loved me with an everlasting love. In this Your love was manifested toward me, that You have sent Your only begotten Son into the world, that I might live through Him. In this is love, not that I loved You, but that You loved me and sent Your Son to be the propitiation for my sins. When the fullness of the time had come, You sent forth Your Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those of us who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Great is the mystery of godliness: You, Almighty God, were manifested in the flesh. As we children have partaken of flesh and blood, Jesus Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.
It is a wonderful mystery: God in flesh, the perfect and once-for-all sacrifice for humanity’s sin! All praise to You, the author of this amazing salvation plan!
TITUS 3:4; JEREMIAH 31:3; 1 JOHN 4:9–10; GALATIANS 4:4–5; JOHN 1:14; 1 TIMOTHY 3:16; HEBREWS 2:14 - Dr. David Jeremiah Life-Changing Moments with God
A strange topic for a Christmas morning...asking such a question!
I don't pick them, I am to report them. So many millions of people this December 25th morning awaken, many bleary eyed from being up late wrapping presents for others. Truth be known millions awoke to either celebrate eternity in Heaven or eternity in Hell. Still others are on the cusp in deciding between the two.
Rage against what? Against God's plan and purpose for mankind. For the future He has in mind for human beings. Human history isn't going to live on for centuries. Science fiction can write about fantastic things but the truth is those things are beyond impossible.
Rage? Isn't that a little harsh? Actually no. Not even on Christmas day. In many places in this world people are being put to death for coming to Christ Jesus for salvation in this very hour.
Rage is a sort of focused anger. Those behind it know why they are in that state of mind. In the book of Revelation the nations will rage against God, knowing full well that the judgments being issued forth are indeed from God’s hand.
Many people today lash out because of what is going on in their lives. They rage against others but truth be known they are angry with God. They go after Christians far more than any other group of people. Jews are also under attack, but the focus of God’s plan in the here and now is the Church. After the Rapture of the Church things will switch to Israel once more.
Anger and depression often work together. People doing their own thing in spite of what God's attempting in their lives. Whether you agree or not is irrelevant. Either you accept as truth that God’s working out His plan to save mankind or you don't. Careers are meaningless, sports, hobbies, even family functions are meaningless if lived outside what God's Will and Word have to say about it.
People raging are ironically the most covered news stories. We watch to see how bad it gets, and wait to see if someone finds a way to do worse.
If you are not in Christ, what hope do you have in getting through this life? Many millions of people in Hell have never given up on their raging against God. They are those gnashing their teeth at Him because of where they are. They are eternally angry at God’s sovereignty. They are eternally angry that it's not their will being done.
We can give all kinds of things, all kinds of gifts in this day we call Christmas. Nobody is promised a today or a tomorrow. Being angry because life isn't going the way we want is a result of sin in our lives. We who are in Christ ought to be living lives pleasing to God.
Anger isn't postponed because of a day of celebrating Christmas. We will look at the news at some point today and see anger and rage played out like any other day.
Jesus Christ came to save mankind and He made it a choice. You can choose not to be saved but you also choose all the consequences of that choice. The Bible spells it out clearly.
People rage also because the god of this world is raging against the God of the Universe. He stirs up people against God because of wanting to be God. The blind rage seen in Revelation by mankind against God is horrific.
Evil in this world is very evident, Good not so much. We want good on our terms. Without the morality of God. We want to please ourselves rather than pleasing God.
Evil isn't taking a holiday. Demon possessed people are all over this world. Fuelling the rage against God in any way they can.
Good in our eyes still fails to reach what Good is in God's eyes.
Jesus came to seek and save the lost in this world. He didn't come to be served but to serve. He came to give His life for you and I. Satan doesn't want people to find that gift of Salvation. Doesn't want people to be at peace as God provides peace. Angry people don't think straight.
We are very good at hiding our emotions and feelings. But we cannot hide them from God’s eyes. We lie to ourselves in putting on a show for people.
Today let your heart seek true peace with God. Forget about the gifts or the rest of what the world calls Christmas. True peace from God will extinguish anger and rage. It passes all understanding. It's unexplainable!
Gifts and presents will breakdown and fail but eternal life with Christ is forever.
Today I have more peace than I know what to do with. It's beyond words. It indeed passes all understanding. Christmas this year is peaceful.
Letting go of living my life my way and letting God do what He's been wanting to do in me has been the most extraordinary thing!
Evil men will proceed from bad to worse. But the hope of God in Christ Jesus can and will guard your hearts and minds. Be right before God today. Live each day embracing what you can do to worship Jesus. Let today be the day that you let go of whatever is between you and God. Let that be your reason to celebrate.
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