His Birth And Our New Birth

"Behold, a virgin shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us" (Isaiah 7:14 R.V.).

Christmas, which takes its name, form Christ's Mass, was first celebrated on various dates from about 200 A.D. but was finally set on December 25 by Bishop Liberus of Rome in 354 A.D.  The December date, which almost coincides with the winter solstice, became a popular festival of West Europe during the Middle Ages.  This priest Libedrus decided since the Romans were celebrating the coming of the "sun" it would be appropriate if Christians on this date December 25 should celebrate the coming of the "SON."  Today we celebrate the coming of the Son of God, taking on human flesh, becoming one of us, all so He could bring salvation to the world. Let us Rejoice!

From Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest"; p. 360.
His Birth in History: "Therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God" (Luke 1:35 R.V.). Jesus Christ was born into this world, not from it.  He did not evolve out of history; He came into history from the outside.  Jesus Christ is not the best human being, He is a Being Who cannot be accounted for by the human race at all.  He is not man become God, but God Incarnate, God coming into human flesh, coming into it from outside.  His life is the Highest and the Holiest entering in at the Lowliest door.  Our Lord's birth was an advent.

His Birth in Me:  "Of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you" (Galatians 4:19 R.V.). Just as our Lord came into human history from outside, so He must come into me from outside.  Have I allowed my personal human life to become a "Bethlehem" for the Son of God?  I cannot enter into the realm of the Kingdom of God unless I am born from above by a birth totally unlike natural birth.  "Ye must be born again."  This is not a command, it is a foundation fact.  The characteristic of the new birth is that I yield myself so completely to God that Christ is formed in me.  Immediately Christ is formed in me, His nature begins to work through me.

God Manifest in the Flesh:  That is what is made profoundly possible for you and me by the Redemption.

Daily Prayer:

Thank you Jesus for coming into this world.  Thank you for bringing salvation to this world.  Thank you for saving me; I am now a child of the Heavenly Father.  May I take this message to my world of influence; that the Savior has come.                        Amen