WHEN I WAS A CHILD I always knew Christmas was not too far away because Mister Magoo’s Christmas Carol was on… In fact, Duane and I were talking about this just the other day. We were born in 1956. How many of you out there were like us? Wasn’t it fun?!

And as a child, the days after this great program seemed like a lot more than just ten to wait! It was so hard to wait for Christmas!

God always tells me great things! And one of them is this: it was so very hard as a little girl to wait to open presents. Now it’s easy for me. But there’s another present that’s already been given over two thousand years ago…

AND YOU KNOW IT IS CHRISTMAS
we are celebrating!

Christmas is (and only is) the celebration of Jesus, God’s own Son, being born into this fallen world to save us from ourselves…

As I waited for Christmas as a child being raised without the teachings from the Bible, without church attendance, and without reverential awe of Him who was sent; still, a lot of joy and love was in my home. But the most beautiful and miraculous expectation was not:

Titus 2:11-14
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,  who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

Now I wait with the great expectation anyone anywhere of any time could ever have on Earth! Jesus was born of a virgin; He is Messiah, Son of God, Son of Man, coming King, great I AM. He is coming again!

Please wait too! And welcome Him!

SCRIPTURAL TRUTHS FOR THIS JOY STORY:

Psalm 47
Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. For the Lord Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth. He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet. He chose our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whom he loved. God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets. Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise. God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne. The nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the God of Abraham, for the kings of the earth belong to God; he is greatly exalted.

1 Peter 1:3-9
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.  In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.  These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.  Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,  for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Revelation 22:12-21
“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.  Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.  “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life. I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll.  And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll. He who testifies to these things says,

“Yes, I am coming soon.”

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.