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Reflecting on God’s Great Gift to Us at Christmas

12/24/2018

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Our Heavenly Father loves it when we come to him and ask questions because we want to understand. In Dr. Luke’s telling of the Christmas story, there are two examples of questions asked of the angel Gabriel. One gets a loving informative answer, and the other gets a rebuke because of unbelief.
 
Zechariah was chosen to minister an offering incense in the Holy Place of the temple. It was a high honor for priest. While there, the angel Gabriel appeared to him and told him that his wife would bear him a son who would be great in the sight of the Lord. Luke 1:18 (NLT) records his response, “Zechariah said to the angel, ‘How can I know this will happen? I'm an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.’” Some have said this was not really a question but rather the complaint of an old man bitter because the Lord had not blessed them with a child previously. While stated like a question, it does not really seem to be seeking truth. Gabriel responds to the unbelief telling Zechariah that he will be mute until the birth of the child.
 
It is interesting that just a few verses later in the same passage, another person asks, “How can this be?” but with a very different response—a simple answer. Gabriel appears to Mary to tell her that she will bear the promised Messiah of Israel. Her heart is believing, but she needs more information because she is so young, so the text tells us, “Mary asked the angel, ‘But how can I have a baby? I am a virgin.’” (Luke 1:34 NLT) Gabriel gently gives her a simple yet accurate answer. He further gives her information about her relative Elizabeth that she needs to know.
 
The second person of the Trinity coming to earth to take on human flesh is a mind-expanding concept that ought to cause us to have questions about “how this can be.” For an in-depth study of the virgin birth, I suggest Dr. Robert Gromacki’s book, The Virgin Birth: A Biblical Study of the Deity of Jesus Christ. 
 
Ask the Lord to lead you this Christmas to a place of deep wonder and appreciation of the gift of love the Father gave us in Jesus! You will be blessed and be a blessing to others in your joy!
 
Principles cited in this blog: Questions can be either complaining or honest. The Lord loves to answer honest questions from his children.      
 
Application for ISI ministry: The more we study the Bible and learn from biblical teachers about what the Lord has done, the more joy we have and express in all our relationships.    
 
Next blog topic: [We will take a break for a couple of weeks and resume after the New Year on January 11.]  
 
Doug Shaw with Derrah Jackson

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Merry Christmas!

12/14/2018

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Special Christmas blog

12/7/2018

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Susan and I love this time of year. Celebrating Christmas is delightful. The happy attitudes people share, the stories of Christmases past, the excitement of children and grandchildren, the festive clothing, the lights decorating the outside of houses, the anticipation of responses to gifts we give, and the music is the best!
 
When we think of the meaning of Christmas—God loving us so much that the second Person of the Trinity took on flesh—to live amongst us, to reveal the Father to us (John 14:9), and to give himself as the perfect sacrifice for us, it touches us deeply. We feel so loved.
 
International students on the semester system finish fall semester exams right before Christmas, and they are ready to kick back and do some celebrating of their own. Students on the quarter system at least get a bit of a break at Christmas. How could your family open your home to let international students experience some of the joy we share this time of year?
 
One family invites students over to a meal, sings a couple of simple Christmas carols, and then explains the significance of many of the ornaments on the tree—their son’s third Christmas, a sister’s cat ornament (exchanged each year for the last 15 years), an ornament crocheted by the wife’s mother, and so on. Finally, they share about the star on the top of the tree and tell the story of the star that led the wise men to see the foretold savior of the world. They mention that wise men still seek Jesus because he wants a vital dynamic relationship with them. 
 
How could the Lord use your normal traditions at Christmas as a platform for a simple witness? Would it be appropriate to ask the students if they would be interested in a six-week study of what the Bible says about who Jesus is and what he did? (At the end of the six weeks, you can ask if they would like to continue studying other passages.) Consider ISI’s M28 app as a guide.
 
If you do, please write us and share stories of what you did and the response of the students. We would love to rejoice with you and pray for you!
 
Principles cited in this blog: Our usual traditions at Christmas can be an opportunity to share the meaning of Christmas with others.     
 
Application for ISI ministry:  Christmas is an ideal time to invite students to your home and to use the decorations of Christmas to tell the story of Christ’s birth and ministry on earth.
 
Next blog topic: Reflecting on God’s great gift to us at Christmas  
 
Doug Shaw with Derrah Jackson



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