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Tag: February 11th

  • The Good News You Need To Hear

    Luke 2:11 “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

    The message the angels shared with the shepherds when Jesus was born is the good news (shall we say the BEST news) you and everyone in the entire world need to hear.  Roy Lessin put it this way:
    If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent an educator.
    If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist.
    If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist.
    But since our greatest need was forgiveness, God sent us a Savior.

    We move from Luke 2:11 on (2/11) to Matthew 2:11. It says, “And when they (the wise men) had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”  
    The actions of the wise men are tremendous examples for us as they first sought to find Jesus.  Wise men still seek Him.  Upon finding Him they worshiped Him.  Wise men worship Him.  Their worship was followed with giving, giving specific and special gifts.  Wise men give to the Lord, starting out with giving of themselves.  

    Moving from Matthew 2:11 on (2/11) we now look at the actions of a believer from 1 Peter 2:11 as Peter writes, “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.”  The appeal from Peter is to take the tough action of ABSTAINING from fleshly lusts.  We are in a war, a spiritual war, and we must battle the flesh by starving the flesh.   

    Moving forward as a pilgrim we see Philippians 2:11 and as a believer, we willingly and gladly confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  

    So, on February 11 we hear the good news that a Savior has been born and He is worthy of being worshiped and to receive our very best.  We hear the appeal to abstain against the lust of the flesh and willingly confess the one born to be our Savior is Lord, to the glory of our heavenly Father. 

    Continue Strong worshiping the Savior, 
    And Remember to Date the Word  

  • A Proper Response to the Savior

    Matthew 2:11 “And when they (the wise men) had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary, His mother and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” 

    Even though we are in February, just days from Valentine’s Day, I could not resist using Matthew 2:11 for February 11. I do recall from the movie A Christmas Carol that Scrooge said, “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. Thus, we seek to learn and live out lessons from Christmas all year and will do so by looking at Matthew as well as Luke 2:11.

    These two verses tell of the most amazing announcement the human race could hear and the most incredible response to the savior.  The amazing announcement of a savior brings us the answer to our greatest problem as sinners.  The response of the wise men challenges us and inspires us on how to respond to the Savior. 

    Let us first consider the amazing announcement.   While each word has significance the word savior stands out above the rest.  Jesus came to save.  Matthew 1:21 says, “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”  Luke 19:10 tells us, “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”  His purpose in coming and being born was to be our savior!  

    How do we respond?  From Matthew 2:11, we read of how Wisemen came to Him, and they fell down and worshipped Him.  What these Wisemen did was a preview of what is happening in heaven.  Revelation tells several times of those in heaven falling down, bowing down, laying prostrate before the Lamb, the Savior, and worshipping Him.   

    When was the last time you fell down, knelt down, bowed down, and laid prostrate before the Lamb?  When was the last time you poured yourself out in worship? Worship comes from a word meaning to count worthy.  Our worship is considering the Lamb worthy; thus, from your heart comes worthy is the Lamb!  

    Their response continues with generosity.  They gave, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”  So much can be learned here about the gifts, but for now, please let the word presented hold your attention.  The Apostle Paul calls us in Romans 12:1 to present ourselves to God as a holy vessel, a living sacrifice.  As the wise men presented gifts from their treasures, we present ourselves to Him.  Just as the Corinthians gave themselves to the Lord we give ourselves to the Lord.  (2 Corinthians 8:5)

    Yes, let us keep Christmas in our hearts all year long.   Hear the amazing announcement that the Savior has been born, and let us now be the announcers as His ambassadors.  Let us daily kneel before Him and offer worship and present ourselves as His holy vessels to be used as He sees fit.

    If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent an educator.
    If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist.
    If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist.
    But since our greatest need was forgiveness, God sent us a Savior. -Roy Lessin

    Continue Strong with adoration of your Savior,
    And remember to DATE The Word