With Honor—Due HIM—We Proclaim!
Could I share something we already know, already see & are totally amazed by 365 days of the year?
- God Sent His Son to the World, born a babe in a lowly manger, who grew to become a man, sinless, Holy, Divine, the promised Messiah, the Savior of the world—JESUS CHRIST!
Every year during the season of Advent, the world waits—
- for the coming of the Messiah,
- for the One prophesied by the prophets,
- for the One who was coming, who was spoken of by God’s angels,
- for the One given to us &
- for the Promised One—spoken of by Jehovah Himself.
“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
(Isaiah 9: 6-7 NASB)
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace.
On the throne of David and over his kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.”
This morning, I found myself reading from the book of Matthew, chapter 1 and Luke, chapters 1 & 2, enjoying (again) the narrative of the birth of Jesus. As I re-read a narrative that has been told to me for over fifty-seven years, I found myself planted on this line of reasoning:
God Works Wonders & When the LORD speaks, JOY quickly follows!
Let me first begin with a bio of a man (John Witherspoon), a list of who he was, what he accomplished, and what he proclaimed—
- A Presbyterian preacher from long ago (the late 1700s),
- A founding father of the United States,
- A delegate from New Jersey to the Second Continental Congress,
- A college president,
- A signer of the honorable Declaration of Independence,
- A signer of the Articles of Confederation &
- A supporter of the Constitution of the United States.
This man proclaimed this about the Maker, the Creator, Jehovah God—
(I will now paraphrase his words.)
- The work of God is mysterious!
- The ways of God are mysterious too!
- The complete comprehension of God is quite impossible!
- The infinite understanding of God is quite incomprehensible!
- The work of His creation is unimaginable!
- His providence speaks to every man, every woman, every child!
- His redemption of the world—the sending of His Son Jesus Christ—PURE LOVE!
“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
(Micah 5: 2-5a NASB)
Too little to be among the clans of Judah,
From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.
His goings forth are from long ago,
From the days of eternity.
Therefore He will give them up until the time
When she who is in labor has borne
a child.
Then the remainder of His brethren
Will return to the sons of Israel.
And He will arise and shepherd His flock
In the strength of the LORD,
In the majesty of the name of the LORD His God.
And they will remain,
Because at that time He will be great
To the ends of the earth.
This One will be our peace.”
- “Don’t Want to Live For Me” MORIAH speaks through melody the declaration we proclaim. Pause to listen.
- Bow to pray.
- May we surrender today, trading our will for the Father’s, allowing our lives to be the proof of God’s Love!
So we pray.
‘Oh God, illuminate our minds. Show us through Your Holy Word. Enlighten our minds. Reveal to us—YOU! We pray, asking You, LORD, to cleanse us from our sins, to make us worthy servants. Father, help us see the need to daily seek You through the reading of Your Word. Allow our minds to be opened by Your Holy Spirit. Father, help the Word of God take root deep within us, and oh God, we pray that the dirt be ‘good soil’ ready to receive that seed which You are planting deep within us. May we focus upon, fix our eyes upon, and only see YOU! Thank You, LORD, for Your amazing, glorious salvation given to us through Your Only Son Jesus. LORD, fashion us into worthy vessels, useful and pliable within Your Holy Hands. Father, give us courage, give us boldness. With Honor—Due HIM—We Proclaim YOU to those who surround us. Today, we pray these words, Father, asking these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.’
- May we shop for great Christmas gifts to share with those we love—BUT—
- May we not waste this Christmas season on just shopping for those perfect gifts to wrap.
- May we not be consumed with the packages underneath the Christmas tree.
- May we remain focused upon what our Father would have us give to those we love.
- May we remember Jesus’ Great Commission He gave to His disciples.
- May we share with others the PERFECT GIFT GOD GRACIOUSLY GAVE TO US!
- May we remember to proclaim to the world the REASON FOR THE SEASON—
JESUS CHRIST!
Thus, in closing, receive the words of Solomon, the man who was given these words of wisdom by God Himself—
“May his name endure forever;
(Psalm 72: 17-19 NASB)
May his name increase as long as the sun shines;
And let men bless themselves by him;
Let all nations call him blessed.
Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel,
Who alone works wonders.
And blessed be His glorious name forever;
And may the whole earth be filled with His glory.
Amen, and Amen.”