The Thanksgiving holiday has passed and now we are in the season of Advent, the preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. It is the time when God put on flesh and entered into the world.  The event that changed the world forever!

You know well the Scripture verses that are spoken and read at this time of year, but let's focus on them to prepare our hearts on the true reason for this season. And, let us determine to turn aside from the hustle and bustle of the commercial Christmas.

"Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14

"For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

Concerning the birth of Jesus Christ in Matthew 2:18-25 (please read the account), an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream.
Verse 21 tells us,
"And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."

Concerning the night of Jesus' birth, Luke 2:6-20, verses 10-11 tells of the angel's announcement to the shepherds, "Then the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.'"

John Chapter 1 tells of Christ's deity and His incarnation, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God." Vs. 1-2 "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."
Vs. 14

Between these three verses, John gives us a statement of the preincarnate work of Christ, the forerunner of Christ, the rejection of Christ and the acceptance of Christ. (Read Vs. 1-14).

Re: the preincarnate work of Christ,
"All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men, And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." Vs. 3-5

Vs. 6-8 Tells of John the Baptist,
"There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light."

The rejection of Christ,
"He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.  He came to His own. And His own did not receive Him."
Vs. 10-11

The acceptance of Christ,
"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
Vs. 12-13

John 3:16 declares the gospel,
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

At this time of year there may be opportunities to share the gospel to those who do not know Christ Jesus. Hopefully, sharing the true meaning of Christmas will draw them to the Lord.

Thank You Father for Your great love that sent Your only Son into the world to redeem us and Your amazing grace that saved us. We love and adore You Most Holy God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen