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And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger. Luke 2:7             I still marvel at the simplicity of Christ’s birth. Think about this … the God of the universe decided to send His only Son to Earth, and He decided to do it in the most humble way possible.               The earthly mother of the child would be a simple girl from a small town in a small country occupied by the oppressive Roman Empire. The earthly father entrusted to rear the boy would be a simple carpenter, not royalty, not a great warrior, and not a politician. The child would be born in an animal’s stable, resting his head in a feeding trough. He wouldn’t be clothed in fine silk, but simple, rough cloth. The birth of the divine Son of God wasn’t announced with an earth-shattering, jaw-dropping event, or a trumpet’s fanfare, but in the cry of the small helpless child.             But this humble birth would be the most important birth ever. It would quite simply change the world. Jesus Christ’s birth is the revealed promise of God that He will never leave nor forsake you.  He sent Jesus, who sacrificed His life to bridge the gap caused by sin between you and your heavenly Father.             That child wrapped in a manger in Bethlehem so long ago is God’s gift to me and to you.

For All Who Believe

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
John 1:10–13

We live in a divided world. Nations go to war over border disputes, resources, and desire for gain. Nations dissolve into warring factions that can no longer live together. This is not a new thing—it has been with us since sin entered the world. But the process of separating and dividing seems to be accelerating in our era. New countries are being created constantly—thirty-four new nations have been created just since 1990.
In a divided world, what is the hope for unity? It surely cannot be found in government programs, for those have been tried and found wanting. It cannot come from education, for more of the world is spending more time in school, yet the divisions remain. It is not found in advances in technology and communication, for despite their promises of connection, they often divide more than ever. The only hope of peace for a world of sinful men is found in the Prince of Peace, who is the Saviour for all who believe.
George Truett said, “Christ was born in the first century, yet He belongs to all centuries. He was born a Jew, yet He belongs to all races. He was born in Bethlehem, yet He belongs to all countries.” There is hope in the message of Christmas—not the consumer crazed holiday many observe, but in the story of a Saviour who came for all those who take His offer of salvation in faith.
 

Today’s Growth Principle: 

When we share the message of Christ coming to save sinners, we are giving hope to a divided world.