THE VERSE
She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.~Matthew 1:21
THE THOUGHT
What is the reason for the season? The obvious Sunday school answer, of course, is "Jesus is the reason for the season!" But let's push past that-- why did Jesus have to come in the first place? Why did God the Son humble Himself and take on human form? The answer: the cross. God sent His Son into the world, born of a woman, born under the Law, to redeem those under the Law. Christ made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. He came to save His people from their sins.John Calvin says this about the why God became man in the incarnation: "It was His to swallow up death: who but Life could do so? It was His to conquer sin: who could do so save Righteousness itself? It was His to put to flight the powers of the devil and the world: who could do so but the mighty power superior to both? But who possesses life and righteousness and the dominion and government of heaven, but God alone? Therefore God, in His infinite mercy, having determined to redeem us, became Himself our Redeemer in the person of His only begotten Son."
This Christmas, remember the reason for the season: the cross.
THE PRAYER
Dear God, Thank you for your great love in sending Your Son to be my Savior. You did not leave me in my sinful condition, alienated from You and under Your wrath, but in mercy You became man to die for my sins. Such a love I cannot even begin to comprehend! This Christmas, help me to remember the cost of my sins and the price that You paid, so as to be moved to humility and love.EXTENDED READING
Matthew 1:20-25Galatians 4:3-7
Philippians 2:5-11
THE QUOTE
"God is not morally neutral." ~Francis Schaeffer
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