Category: Devotionals

“If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world…” John 15:19

Yesterday, my stove blew up, not literally, but something popped, and it stopped working. Having a stove quit on Christmas Day is not the best timing because most restaurants are closed in order for their employees to celebrate the holiday with their families. We did fine through the day, but when it came time for dinner, we wanted something more than a sandwich. After some research, we discovered that one of our favorite Japanese restaurants was open for dinner, so off we went.

The restaurant was extremely crowded with a full waiting area when we arrived, but there happened to be seating for two available, and that was offered to us immediately (Thank You, Lord!) As I perused the menu, I was bombarded by loud boisterous laughter coming from two men sitting next to us. They were truck drivers, just passing through the town, and like us, they had found the only open eatery in the area. At first, I thought they had had a bit too much to drink, but I soon realized they were just having a good time kidding each other as they tried to figure out the menu.

They were very friendly, and we chatted a bit before our meals arrived. One was headed to Alabama, while the other one was on his way to Texas. They had a hard time understanding the waiter, so I explained the meals to the men as they lightheartedly contemplated eating their dinner with a pair of chopsticks. Their rowdy eruptions of pseudo-complaints and laughter soon had us chuckling alongside them. They were just two strangers passing through the town, making the best of their situation on Christmas night, and their cheerful banter was unexpected, but welcome.

The Bible tells me that I am an ambassador for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20), a stranger in this world (Psalm 119:19). Like these two truck drivers, I am just passing through, and sometimes I encounter situations that are less than ideal. I wonder if my behaviors during these unexpected moments are as pleasant as those of these two gentlemen that we met. Do I laugh off the parts that annoy me and see the bright side, or do I face each circumstance with a grumble and a bad attitude?

My interaction with the truck drivers was brief, but it was made me think about the impact my life may have upon others. When I encounter others, what do they see? No matter where I go, whether it is a restaurant, a friend’s home, church, the grocery store… I represent the Lord Jesus Christ. I interact with people from all walks of life, and most of the times, these interactions are brief. Sometimes the circumstances are good, sometimes not so good, but how I react to them is the key. To shine for Jesus, I must face them with a positive outlook. My countenance must not be downcast, but instead it must be lifted up, hopeful, and yes, merry, no matter what! I hope to leave people enjoying our short time together and seeing in me a true reflection of the Saviour I love.

As Christians, we are in the world, but not of the world. We represent the Son of God as we “travel this sod,” and we must present Jesus in the best way possible to a world that desperately needs Him. We only have one chance to make a good first impression. Let’s do a good job no matter what comes our way. Let’s reflect our Lord in a positive light because we truly may be the only Jesus some will ever see!

If not in you, I wonder where will they ever see the One who really cares?
If not from you, how will they find
There’s One who heals the broken heart, and gives sight to the blind?
You’re the only Jesus that some will ever see
And you’re the only words of life, some will ever read
So let them see in you the One in whom is all they’ll ever need
‘Cause you’re the only Jesus, some will ever see

(from “You’re the Only Jesus Some Will Ever See” by Gordon Jensen)

“They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” John 17:16

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When others look at you, whom do they see?

“For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45

One of my favorite things to do at Christmastime is watching the movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” It stars Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey, a man who has the eye-opening experience of seeing what the world would be like if he had never been born. This revelation transforms George into a man who realizes the positive influences he has had upon those he loves, and he is reborn into a man thankful for the life he has lived.

Can you imagine what the world would be like if Jesus had never been born?

We would be a hopeless people. Sin would be rampant, and we would be engulfed by wickedness and evil. We would cry out for help, but there would be no answer. There would be unresolved heartache, despair, emptiness, and ultimately, the judgment of God. “Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.” (Ephesians 5:6)

But Jesus was born.

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11

Because of Jesus, we can have forgiveness of our sins. Because of Him, we can be “…made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21) when we accept Him as Saviour. Because of this relationship with Jesus, we will never have to stand before God as judge, but instead we can stand before Him as Saviour and Lord.

Because of Jesus, we can have unrestricted access to God, communing with Him whenever we want. We can have His presence in our lives to help us, sustain us, bless us, care for us, and most of all, to love us. Because of Jesus, we have the power of God accessible to us to fight sin, and we can live a life that is good in His sight and meaningful for us.

Because of Jesus, we can have an intercessor who brings our needs, desires, and hopes to God the Father on our behalf. “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” (Romans 8:34)

Because of Jesus, we can have a place being prepared for us this very moment in heaven so that we can live there with Him forever! (John 14:2,3) Without His coming, we wouldn’t have this or any of the other promises He made when He walked this earth.

Because of Jesus, we can have the Holy Spirit of God indwelling us, helping us, comforting us, teaching us, and interceding for us. (John 14:26, 16:13, Romans 8:26-27, 1 Corinthians 2:10) Once saved by His grace, we can have the assurance that we are accepted by God, joint-heirs with Jesus (Romans 8:17) because His Spirit dwells within us! “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16)

Because Jesus came and shared His wonderful life with us, we can have a truly wonderful life in Him!

Hail the Heav’n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris’n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! the herald angels sing:
“Glory to the newborn King!”

(from “Hark the Herald Angels Sings” by Charles Wesley, altered by George Whitefield)

“I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10

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If you’ve never asked Jesus to forgive your sins and become your Saviour, you can do it today! It’s as easy as A-B-C. Pray to the Lord and Admit you’re a sinner who is sorry for their sins; Believe that Jesus is God’s Son who died on the cross to take the punishment for your sins, and Choose Him to be your Saviour by asking Him to forgive you for those sins. (Romans 3:23, 6:23, 5:8, 10:9-10, John 3:16) Today, you can have the wonderful life God has planned for you!

Merry Christmas!

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

The road is long between Nazareth and Bethlehem. Approximately 90 miles of desert wilderness. No motels, no rest areas, no fast-food restaurants… at least not in the days of first-century Israel. The average trip would take about seven days depending on the travelers, probably a bit longer if you were “great with child” (Luke 2:5) as was Mary, the soon-to-be mother of Jesus.

Assuredly, Joseph walked alongside his expectant wife, careful that she was comfortable, leading her as she (hopefully) rode atop a small donkey, helping both negotiate the difficult spots in the road. On and on they went toward the city of David to be taxed according to the law. There were many miles to go.

They probably traveled through the flatlands of the Jordan River valley, then west through the Judean wilderness and over the hills surrounding Jerusalem. As they continued past Jerusalem, they would go by the area known as the “shepherds’ fields,” the place where lambs were raised for temple sacrifice. Its stone watchtower, standing as a sentinel over the flocks, was where the newborn lambs were swaddled and protected… just as Jesus would soon be. These fields, located just on the outskirts of Bethlehem proper, would have given the couple great relief as they realized that their destination was in sight. And so they continued.

Later that night, Joseph and Mary would return to the fields and the Migdal Eder, the “tower of the flock,” to welcome the Son of God into the world because there would be no place for them to stay in the city itself. It is here the angels would announce the birth to the priestly shepherds, and they would go and find Jesus. “And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:12) The shepherds would know exactly where to go. The Migdal Eder. The place where the sacrificial lambs were born. “…Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29)

It was now a time to rejoice! Jesus was born! The promised Messiah had come! But the road didn’t end here. It would continue on for the next 33 years to a place where an old rugged cross would be raised, and the tiny, sinless baby born that night and placed in a manger would be crucified for the sins of the entire world. It was truly a long road, but Jesus, the Lamb of God, chose to walk it for you and for me all the way to Calvary.

“While we were yet sinners, ”God gave us the greatest gift that night – His Son.

On the night Christ was born,
Just before break of morn,
As the stars in the sky were fading,
O’er the place where He lay,
Fell a shadow cold and gray
Of a cross that would humble a King.

Born to die upon Calv’ry,
Jesus suffered my sin to forgive;
Born to die upon Calv’ry,
He was wounded that I might live.

(from “Born to Die” by Ron Hamilton)

“And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19

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Walking with Jesus is the best way to travel!

“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

Christmas is almost here! This is one of the busiest times of the year for me, and I look forward to it each December. First, there is the shopping, which I confess starts in late November for me. Hunting for parking spaces at the mall, squeezing through the crowds, searching for the perfect gifts for family and friends… I love each moment! Then, there is the decorating of my home. From selecting the perfect tree to placing each Christmas heirloom in the right spot to hanging wreaths and lights… I love this, too! Next, I prepare for family time. This year I am in charge of the Christmas Eve brunch. I have to decide upon a menu, buy the food, then cook and serve it! In between all of this, I have presents to wrap and various Christmas festivities and church services to attend! Wow! I am a busy girl at Christmastime, and while some people do not like the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, I absolutely love every single part of it!

Unfortunately, the things that I love about the Christmas season can also distract me from the most important reason for the holiday. I could easily forget all about Jesus as I scurry around completing each task on my checklist. Not okay.

To overcome this, I must be especially diligent to spend time with the Lord every day. Beginning each day reading the Bible and meditating upon it is part of surviving the worldly influences of Christmas that surround us all. I must be spiritually still and listen to His voice as I dwell upon His Word, and then I need to spend time chatting with Him. Forgive my casual reference to prayer, but I like to have an ongoing conversation with God throughout the day. I like to keep my prayer life on an open channel, so to speak. This continued communication helps me keep my heart centered on Him when I see Santa, reindeer and elves everywhere I go.

It truly is easy to get caught up in the festivities of Christmas and lose focus on the most important part – the coming of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, to be our Saviour. I must take time to be still, know that He is God and that Jesus is my reason to celebrate this blessed season. Merry Christmas!

Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown,
When Thou camest to earth for me;
But in Bethlehem’s home was there found no room
For Thy holy nativity:

Oh, come to my heart, Lord Jesus!
There is room in my heart for Thee;
Oh, come to my heart, Lord Jesus, come,
There is room in my heart for Thee.

(from “Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne” by Emily Elliott and Timothy Matthews)

“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you…” James 4:8

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By the way, Bible reading and prayer is a good practice for every day, not just at Christmastime!

“And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.” Matthew 1:25

Christmas. This is such a wonderful time of year. Many of us look to the Scriptures for the true meaning of the holiday, and there we can read two separate accounts of the birth of Jesus in the books of Matthew and Luke. Take a moment and think about the people that were involved in that first Christmas. Today, amid all the decorations and yuletide celebrations, church services and Christmas caroling, of whom do you think when Christmas is mentioned? First and foremost, we usually think of Jesus, followed by his mother, Mary. Others might mention the wise men, the shepherds, or even the angels.

Interestingly, very few people first think of Joseph, the husband of Mary. In fact, if he were the piece missing from your nativity set, it probably wouldn’t bother you nearly as much as if you’d lost one of the wise men or shepherds. But Joseph was more than just Mary’s husband. He was chosen by God to fulfill one of the most important roles in the coming of Jesus.

When Joseph and Mary became betrothed, there was a ceremony that was more legally binding than the actual marriage ceremony. During the betrothal, Joseph promised to love and care for Mary, and she promised to keep herself only for her husband, yielding her life to him. The betrothal was a year-long period of time with a legal contract that considered the couple to be married. The only way the betrothal could be dissolved would be if Joseph chose to legally divorce Mary. Additionally, during this time period, while Joseph and Mary prepared for their upcoming nuptials, they did not live together, nor did they have any physical intimacy.

It was during this betrothal time that Joseph found out that Mary was expecting a child. He knew that he was not the biological father for he had adhered to Jewish law and had not yet had a physical relationship with her. Heartbroken, he considered the circumstances in which he found himself. He knew he had every legal right to divorce Mary for infidelity. How great the anguish that must have gripped his soul when faced with this betrayal by the one he adored. His beloved Mary was carrying a child that he knew was not his own. The Bible tell us that he wrestled with what to do in Matthew 1:19-20.

It was then that the Lord sent an angel to Joseph in a dream. Here the angel explained everything that had happened to Mary was part of God’s plan to send a Saviour, and that the child Mary was carrying was the Son of God. When Joseph awoke, he had a choice to make. Believe God and take Mary to be his wife, or reject God and divorce her. Without hesitation, Joseph chose to trust the Lord and bare the awesome responsibility of caring for the Son of God and his mother, Mary.

Think about what this meant. Although Joseph had every legal right to be physically intimate with Mary, Joseph purposed in his heart to trust and obey the Lord. While he vowed to love, care for, and protect Mary and the baby, he also promised he would not consummate their marriage until after the birth of God’s Son. His faithful determination to withhold his physical affections from Mary until Jesus was born leaves no doubt as to the paternity of Jesus and speaks volumes of the heart of Joseph.

This Christmas, remember to thank the Lord for the young carpenter who loved Mary and Jesus with all of his heart, but most of all for the faithful man who chose to trust God without question in the most incredible story of love known to man.

How could it be this baby in my arms, sleeping now, so peacefully
The Son of God, the angel said, How could it be?
Lord, I know He’s not my own, Not of my flesh, not of my bone
Still Father let this baby be the son of my love

Father show me where I fit into this plan of yours
How can a man be father to the Son of God
Lord for all my life I’ve been a simple carpenter
How can I raise a king, how can I raise a king?

The Son of God, the angel said, How could it be? How could it be?

(from “Joseph’s Song” by Michael Card)

“Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife.” Matthew 1:24

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You don’t have to be in the spotlight for God to use you. You just need to have a willing heart that trusts the Lord. Merry Christmas!

“And the Word was made 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.” John 1:14

Consider these two verses: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1), and “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1) If I were a mathematician, I would identify the common factor of these two verses as “in the beginning.” In the beginning…. God, and in the beginning… the Word. Both are identified in the Bible as the Creator. (Genesis 1:1, John 1:3) Therefore, we can conclude that God and the Word are the same. Because of John 1:14, we know that the “Word” is Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity.

There are many people that doubt the true identity of Jesus. However, the Bible leaves no doubt as to whom He is.

• “And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.” John 1:34
• “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” Luke 1:35
• “Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.” Matthew 14:33
• “Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.” John 1:49
• “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:16
• “And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.” John 6:69

There are many other verses in the Bible that proclaim the identity of Christ, as well as verses that identify Him by other monikers. Here are a few examples.

• Beloved Son (Luke 3:22)
• Saviour of the world (1 John 4:14)
• The Lamb of God (John 1:29)
• The Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6)
• The Good Shepherd (John 10:11)

This Christmas take time to reflect upon Jesus, the Word of God, who came to earth for the specific purpose of redeeming His creation. He came knowing His destiny would be the cross, knowing He would be mocked, despised, and rejected, knowing that He would be scorned by so many. Yet the Bible tells us that “…God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”(Romans 5:8) Despite all that, the Son of God willingly sacrificed His life to save all humanity from their sins.

Jesus is the Word of God… past, present, and future. What a wonderful Christmas gift!

All Hail! Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning,
O Jesus! for evermore be Thy name adored.
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

(from “O Come All Ye Faithful” by John Francis Wade)

“And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.” Revelation 19:13

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There are many words for Christmas… but the Word of Christmas is Jesus!

“Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” 2 Corinthians 9:15

“Thank you.” Two small words that mean so much, and hopefully you hear them often. Sometimes it’s a casual “thanks,” and sometimes it’s a very heartfelt expression of deep gratitude. No matter which, saying “thank you” is one way we express our appreciation to others.

Thanking God is important also, and it should be a part of everyone’s prayer life. We can thank God for His blessings toward us, for answered prayer, and for simply loving us. We can thank Him for many other things, but we should especially thank God for His “unspeakable gift.” The gift of His Son, Jesus Christ.

To get a small idea of why this gift from God is so “unspeakable,” consider this. God and Jesus had never been apart from one another until the cross. When Jesus took all the sins of the world upon Himself, the unthinkable happened. The Father and the Son were separated. In that most agonizing moment, God the Father turned away from His only begotten Son, Jesus. It had never happened before in all eternity past, and it will never happen again, but it happened then. And it was the most unbearable and heart-wrenching moment for both the Father and the Son. The anguish was so great that it caused Jesus to cry out from the cross, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)

I cannot even begin to understand what God and Jesus went through at that moment. I only know that my sin contributed to that situation. Maybe that’s why God hates sin so much. Maybe it was because His own heart was also ripped out and broken at Calvary due to sin. But even though God knew what it would cost, He still sent His Son to earth to become our Saviour. There are no words to describe the enormity of the love that God has for us. Like His gift, His love is also “unspeakable.”

For the greatest of treasures wasn’t offered up by men
But a gift from the heavens that only God could send
Of all the things He could give, God chose just one
It was the greatest of treasures when the Father gave the world His Son.

(from “The Greatest of Treasures” by Dave Clark and Russell Mauldin)

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23

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This Christmas season take time to thank God for His truly unspeakable gift!

“Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The LORD reigneth.” I Chronicles 16:31

When I was in college, I took several world history classes. I learned that many who ruled kingdoms and empires were brutal and self-centered, and remembered only for their wicked ways. They ruled with iron fists, and their cruelties knew no bounds. Their subjects suffered endlessly and without hope because these leaders were ruthless and without mercy.

It is difficult for me to comprehend the horrors of this type of leadership because the one who reigns over me is the complete antithesis to these horrific rulers. The one who rules over me is good, just, merciful, and true. He loves me with such enormity that he would do anything to keep me close to his heart. He is so powerful that no other king or worldly power can topple him from his throne. There is total safety and security in his hands. When I disappointed him, he is always ready to forgive me and restore my relationship with him. The one who rules over me is the Creator of the universe, the author and finisher of my faith, and the one I can call “Father.” (John 1:12, Romans 8:15).

God is my sovereign.

God is holy, righteous, just, merciful, honest, loving, forgiving… I could go on and on listing the wonderful attributes of my Lord. He is the One who rules over my life. He is benevolent toward me, longsuffering and patient with me, and He loves me with an everlasting love. In fact, God loves not only me, but the entire world! He loves us all so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to earth to become our Saviour. This is what we celebrate at this time of year – the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth as a baby who would grow up and eventually die for the sins of the entire world. How wonderful to know that God loves us so much that “… He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) Such amazing love He has for us! How can we not rejoice over this?

God is also omniscient. He knows everything, and His wisdom governs His actions. He always acts in our best interests. God’s goodness, holiness, and righteousness continually shines down upon us, and His love for us is everlasting! (Jeremiah 31:3) His mercy endures forever! (Psalm 136:2) This is the God who reigns supreme over all!

One day, all nations on this earth will recognize God for who He is. “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;” And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10-11) Oh, what a day that will be! But until then, I will worship Him in my heart, looking forward to the day when I will see Him as He is (1 John 3:2), bowing down before His actual presence, and thanking Him for all He has done for me. Until then, I will continue to worship and adore Him, and serve Him to the best of my ability. I will rejoice in my heart and be glad that He is my Lord and Saviour, and I shall continually be “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:13)

O worship the king all glorious above,
O gratefully sing his power and his love;
Our shield and defender, the ancient of days,
Pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise.

(from “O Worship the King” by Robert Grant)

“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15

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We are the reason He came. He is the reason we live.

“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14

The birth of a child is a miracle. There is no doubt about it. To think of the complexity of the entire process from conception to birth is undeniably miraculous. It is a wonderful divine event that takes two – mother and father. Always has, always will.

Except once.

Approximately 2000 years ago, Jesus was born of a woman who was a virgin. She was not, as some say, just a young unmarried woman. She was an unmarried young woman who had never been in an intimate physical relationship with a man, and she was the woman chosen by God to bear His Son.

Why is the virgin birth so important? Without the uniqueness of the virgin birth, our salvation would be non-existent. This sinful world needed a sinless Saviour, but ever since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, sin had been passed on to every generation via the fathers (Romans 5:12). A child conceived in sin could never become the perfect holy sacrifice required to redeem all mankind because “…all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). However, a virgin conception and birth would exempt a child from the guilt of Adam’s sin, and qualify him to become the Saviour of the world (2 Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 7:26).

In order for this to happen, the Saviour would need a sinless father, but there was no earthly man who could fulfill that requirement (Romans 3:10). The Saviour’s father would have to be God Himself, and to remove any doubt as to the paternity of the child, the woman had to be a virgin. “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35). And so it was that Jesus was conceived and born of a virgin, which assured that He was truly the Son of God. He was Immanuel… God with us.

There are some who doubt the virgin birth, but think for a moment about the situation surrounding the announcement of this impending birth to Mary (Luke 1). She knew she was a virgin and that there was no way for her to be pregnant until she gave herself to her husband. Although she was betrothed, that time had not yet happened. This is the reason why she questioned the angel’s statement, “And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus” (Luke 1:31). If Mary was simply a “young woman,” she never would have asked, “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?” (Luke 1:34). Mary herself validated her virginity through her wonder at how she could bear a child in her physical state of purity.

The virgin birth is a vital component of our faith because it clearly shows the heritage of our Lord Jesus Christ. His mother was a Jewish virgin, and His Father was God, the Creator and Sustainer of all things. By virtue of these facts, Jesus is Immanuel, God with us, who was born for the specific purpose of becoming our Saviour. “And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world” 1 John 4:14.

This Christmas, as you reflect on the true meaning of the season, take time to thank the Lord for the trusting heart of a young Jewish virgin, who submitted herself to God and became the mother of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

(from “Silent Night” by Joseph Mohr & John Freeman Young)

“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.” Matthew 1:23-25

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“For with God nothing shall be impossible.” Luke 1:37

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

I have heard people comment that the book of Esther has no mention of God in it, and they question its inclusion in the Bible. While it is true that the name of God is not directly mentioned in this book, it does shows how God worked to preserve His people through the Jewish queen. However, as I was meditating upon my verse today, I saw another picture of God in it that I had not noticed before.

In the opening words of the book of Esther, Ahasuerus is described as the king of a vast empire stretching from India to Ethiopia. He sits upon his throne ruling his kingdom, and if any of his subjects wish to see him, they must wait until summoned. No one approaches the king on a whim because that would be an unacceptable breech of protocol that could result in punishment or death if the king so chose.

Due to circumstances that could result in the annihilation of the Jewish people in the empire, Queen Esther has to intervene to save them, but she has not been summoned by Ahasuerus. To approach him, she faces death if the king does not grant her access to him. Regardless, she chooses to go to Ahasuerus on behalf of her people not knowing if she will even get a chance to voice her concerns. As she approaches the king, he extends his golden scepter, which allows her to come to him with her petitions, ultimately leading to the salvation of the Jewish people in the empire (Esther 5:2).

I see many ways in which Ahasuerus is a picture of God. First, Ahasuerus reigns over an earthly kingdom, God, the King of the universe, sits on His throne in heaven, overseeing His entire creation. Psalm 115:3 records “But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.”

Second, Ahasuerus was unapproachable due to his position. To go to Ahasuerus without being properly summoned would result in death. Likewise, in Biblical times, no one could approach God in their sinful state except the priests, and even their access was limited. The holiness and righteousness of God demands that the priests follow God’s requirements exactly when approaching Him. Failure could result in death. Approaching God, even when done rightly, was a fearful thing. The Bible records several instances where people were overcome with fear when the Lord’s angels appeared (Daniel 8:17, Luke 1:12, Luke 2:9). Just imagine the magnitude of fear if facing the Lord God Almighty Himself!

Thirdly, Ahasuerus could decide to show mercy if one did approach him. God could also choose to show mercy with certain individuals. Luke 1:50 states, “And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation,” and we are reminded that God’s mercy “endureth forever” (Psalms 118, 136).

Lastly, Ahasuerus had the power to deal with any problem in his kingdom, which meant that if there was a situation in the region, the king would be the one to whom the people would go. Our God has the ultimate power to control any and all situations in this world, past, present, and future. Revelation 19:6 states, “And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.” If we have needs or concerns, God is the one to whom we should go, for there is nothing that He cannot do to remedy a problem or situation (Luke 1:37).

The comparisons do not stop there. The most important picture that I see is in regards to approaching God. Esther was initially concerned about approaching the king, even though she was his queen. She had no way of knowing whether Ahasuerus would grant her mercy, allowing her to live, or sentence her to death (Esther 4:11). When we approach God, we no longer have to be afraid of God’s judgment. We are told in Hebrews 4:16 that we can approach the throne of God without fear. In fact, we are to come to Him BOLDLY! That means God is always extending his divine scepter in a gesture of His infinite mercy toward us! We never have to fear death if we have accepted Jesus as our Saviour because through Christ we have a personal relationship with our heavenly Father. He is always available to us, and because of His mercy, we will always find Him wiling to dispense His grace to help us in our times of need.

Maybe the name of God is not mentioned in the book of Esther, but it certainly paints a beautiful picture of the mercy and grace of our heavenly Father. Sometime the picture painted tells more than the written words could ever do.

Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
Too deeply for mirth or song;
As the burdens press, and the cares distress,
And the way grows weary and long?

O, yes, He cares – I know He cares!
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares, He cares.

(from “Does Jesus Care?” by Frank Graeff)

“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37

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So thankful that God cares for me and wants me to come boldly to Him!