Daily Encouragement

Friday, December 22, 2023

"God Sent His Son"

Personal note: We want to wish each of our readers a very joy-filled Christmas because of the blessed reality that "God Sent His Son". It makes all the difference in this world and in the next!

As little children we would dream of Christmas morn
Of all the gifts and toys we knew we'd find
But we never realized a baby born one blessed night
Gave us the greatest gift of our lives

We will be serving at one of our church's Christmas Eve services on Saturday afternoon (and attending another). On Sunday morning we'll travel up to the Lehigh Valley to attend the Christmas service where my nephew Patrick is pastor. After enjoying dinner with my brother's family we'll drive through Bethlehem, PA on the way home late Christmas Eve afternoon.

Message summary: Today let’s remember the very heart of Christmas expressed in our daily texts: "God sent His Son". This is the vital truth and the greatest source of joy and encouragement. Jesus Christ is the greatest and most sacrificial gift given to all humankind!

Listen to our message on your audio player.

But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons” (Galatians 4:4,5). In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent His only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him" (1 John 4:9).

We have a friend who worked many years as a supervisor for a large supermarket chain (many readers would recognize the name). She along with all the employees of her store were instructed by management not to greet customers with “Merry Christmas” but rather “Happy Holidays”.

Now I have heard this dispute for years but I can hardly imagine corporate energy being expended on such foolishness in micromanaging how one person greets another! She pointed out the inconsistency since the store plays Christmas music (including sacred songs) and sells Christmas cards, including religiously themed cards and other items. But somehow saying "Merry Christmas" is unacceptable.

But it continues. This year a school district in the Philadelphia area sent out a memo to drivers at the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District demanding they remove any decorations associated with the holiday, citing a need for "inclusivity" and a district policy concerning religious holidays. “If you have decorated your bus with anything specific to the Christmas holiday or any other decorations relating to a specific religion, please remove them immediately,” a copy of the memo obtained by Crisis in the Classroom (CITC) reads. “In addition, employees are instructed not to wear clothing related to Christmas or any other religious holiday.” (After public outcry the policy was rescinded*)

Several years ago we were singing carols in a nursing home when we approached the room of a Jewish woman. I whispered to Brooksyne, "She might not want to hear the Christmas carols". Brooksyne asserted that she would be fine since she regularly attended the hymn sings that Brooksyne led in at that time. We went in and sang a sacred carol and she sang right along! As we left singing "We wish you a Merry Christmas" she expressed her heartfelt appreciation that we had stopped by! I suppose the pc (politically correct) message that a Jew was supposed to be easily offended at the very mention of Christ had not yet reached her.

Here in the United States (and probably in many other countries) public Christmas expressions are increasingly seen as insensitive and unacceptable. This is a relatively recent development (in our lifetime) brought on by the sensitivity police and those easily offended. The incessant efforts of godless groups like the ACLU persistently seek to remove any hint of Christ from the public square and this is most pointedly seen at Christmas.

However there are those who still boldly express their view of the season. Along the main street in our town we have a large auto dealership with a lighted sign which states “Christ Is Born.” Our entire front page weekly merchandiser newspaper featured Isaiah 9:6: “For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Along with the nativity silhouette just above their greeting: “Merry Christmas”.

The late Bible teacher Warren Wiersbe observed, “In this day when pluralism is interpreted by most people to mean ‘agree with everybody about everything and don’t make waves,’ Christians need to remember that they are different and must test everything by the Word of God. There are many religions, but there is still ‘no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved’” (Acts 4:12). That name, the Name above all names, is Jesus."

Today let’s remember the very heart of Christmas expressed in our daily texts: "God sent His Son". This is the vital truth and greatest source of joy and encouragement. Jesus Christ is the greatest and most sacrificial gift given to all humankind! God sent His Son is a short variation of John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life".

We are the reason that He gave His life
We are the reason that He suffered and died
To a world that was lost He gave all He could give
To show us the reason to live

Be encouraged today, (Hebrews 3:13)

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Jesus, You are life’s greatest Treasure as You emptied Yourself of equality with God and chose to be made in human likeness taking on the very nature of a servant. Thank You for coming to us and meeting our most critical need, the need of salvation. May we not be timid or embarrassed to openly voice Your presence in the public square even as great hosts of angels proclaimed Your earthly arrival in Bethlehem. Your salvation message brings hope to the hopeless, strength to the weak, and release for those help captive in the ravages of sin’s wasteland. You did not descend to earth in order to conquer or enslave, but to draw others to Yourself through the incredible sacrificial love that poured forth from Your body on the cross of Calvary. What personal wondrous love is this! Amen.

Regarding taking offense and sensitivity at Christmas here’s an interesting, reasonable perspective from Ben Stein, a Jewish man:

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don’t feel threatened. I don’t feel discriminated against. That’s what they are: Christmas trees.

It doesn’t bother me a bit when people say, “Merry Christmas” to me. I don’t think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn’t bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a manger, it’s just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don’t like getting pushed around for being a Jew and I don’t think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can’t find it in the Constitution and I don’t like it being shoved down my throat.

* Pa. school district asks bus drivers to 'remove' Christmas decor for 'inclusivity,' sparking outrage

In the quote, citing a need for "inclusivity" it seems the better word would be exclusivity in the sense that they are really banning even the most innocuous expressions of faith such as "clothing related to Christmas".

Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"We Are The Reason" Watch on YouTube David Meece

"He Is The Gift" Watch on YouTube Shawna Belt Edward

"Jesus Christ Is Born" Watch on YouTube Mac Powell

We are blessed by all the greetings we receive at this time of year and today we share an international greeting we received today from Jackline & Moses, a couple from South Sudan:

We write to wish you a Merry Christmas and blessed 2024.

May this Christmas bring you abundant joy and and something new in your lives. Well, we always sung 'do something new in my life ooh lord!' The best could be a revived zeal and love for our Lord Jesus Christ who prepared salvation for all who receive Him and take Him as personal Lord and savior, to enjoy abundant life! I think the world has one major need, "everybody needs love." And we were loved by the very best, our maker, our creator and no other love can be compared to this!

Merry Christmas as our Savior is being born!

With lots of love,

Jackline & Moses.

Special Year-end Financial Appeal

We want to thank all who have financially supported our ministry this past year (and some for many years!). Like most ministries, we typically see a spike in giving at the end of the year for which we are most thankful.

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Stephen and Brooksyne Weber

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