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Discipleship - Part
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Friendship with
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Responding to
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Lessons to Think About
Lessons to Think About: Jesus' Birth
Monday, Dec. 10, 2007
The following lesson was prepared by Rolly Tolentino.
"The shepherds said to one another, 'Let’s go to Bethlehem, and
see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us.'" - Luke 2:15
The angels announced to the shepherds the good news that their long-awaited
Messiah had been born in a stable in Bethlehem. When the shepherds heard this,
they rejoiced and heeded the angel’s call: to travel and see where the Saviour was
born.
Just like the shepherds of long ago, we too heeded God’s call to leave our
country of birth and all things familiar, to journey to a new land in search of a
place to raise our son and to start a new life. We got out of our comfort zone
and took a step of faith, not knowing what the future holds for us, but trusting
that God will lead and protect us.
I remembered my family’s first Christmas in Canada: we were driving home one
December night in 1994 and we were all bundled up as it was so cold. We were
looking at houses as we passed by, and we saw lots of multi-coloured decorative
lights around the parkways, trees and windows.
I felt so peaceful looking at all the festive lights and decorations,
reflecting that we have a good God who knows the life we are living, because He
too lived it. In this peaceful surrounding, God wanted me to know that He loves
me and my family deeply. I believe He wanted us to receive the gift of His
blessings and graces as we started living our new life.
"You o Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all
the people of Judah, yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origins are from
the distant past." - Micah 5:1
Bethlehem means "the house of bread", the birthplace of the child Jesus, who would
later call Himself, "The Bread of Life" (I am the living bread that came down from heaven -
John 6:51).
Christ came to declare God’s love for us. Not only did God send His own Son into the
world, but at exactly the right time, He also demonstrated His own love toward us by dying
on the cross for our sins.
Jesus is the reason for the Christmas season – but eventually, it was us, mere sinners,
who were the real reasons that He came into this world. So let us open the door of our heart
and receive the joy of knowing Christ and start living in His Love.
Glory to God in the highest!
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