Jesus Changes Everything!

The Christmas and Easter stories are stories I've heard all my life. I am grateful that I was brought up to know them, but sometimes very familiar stories can seem like just that--"stories." It is easy to think I know the details and to skim over them, neglecting the reality and importance of the events and the impact that God's coming to Earth has on our lives. Yes, these stories are far more than appealing Christian lore--they are world-changing events that rivet our attention and demand a response. Salvation Is Born Jesus--fully God and fully man, From the first, redemption's plan. Display of God's love, atonement for sins, Born in a manger: Salvation begins! God kissed Earth with the physical presence of Himself! Jesus, Messiah! Perfect Lamb! Soon and Coming King! Lord above all lords! But tonight He's a tiny, helpless baby in the care of Mary and Joseph. Shhh... Lord, You knew from man's first sin that You would send a Savior. I'm not sure that I fully comprehend how monumental that is--that the Creator of the universe would come and live among His children as one of them. Yet You love us so deeply that that is exactly what You did! The baby in the manger didn't look like the mighty Savior of the world, but that's who He was--and is! Thank You, my Lord and my Redeemer. Amen. Shepherds in the Field (Speaker: a Shepherd) Shepherding a flock is rarely exciting; in fact, the hours can drag on. At night when time passes slowly, the urge to sleep is strong. But not tonight! We're wide awake! An angel appeared in God's glory. He stood in radiance among us to tell us the Christmas story. Oh, we were terribly frightened; I think you would be, too, If in the quiet of a routine night God's angel appeared to you! He reassured us quickly and told us not to fear. He had come with good news to tell: God's Son, the Messiah, was here! Then suddenly the armies of heaven joined him, together their voices they raised. "Glory to God in the highest," the heavens were filled with praise. And so we set out to find him, to kneel in adoration, We were humbled and thrilled to be there by God's personal invitation! Before we returned to our fields, we told others what we had seen. Everyone was astonished, what could all of this mean? Could this be the Messiah? A manger stall His birth site? Is Emmanuel sleeping in a manger as God works a miracle tonight? Lord, You left the majesty of heaven to be born in a manger in a small town, worshiped by ordinary shepherds--what a glorious message! I am ordinary, too. Don't let me miss Your messages to me. And when You invite me to approach You, may I eagerly draw near in humble adoration. May I respond with worship and obedience. Amen. Buried Jesus of Nazareth walked among us, He came to seek and to save, He talked about life everlasting, Jesus, Messiah, now lies in the grave. I once heard the account of a man who was hearing the story of Jesus for the first time. His heart was open and he was falling in love with Jesus. When the story-teller got to the part about Jesus' death and burial, the man broke down and wept! You see, he didn't know the end of the story. I was struck by this man's grief for Jesus' death; does my heart grieve as it should? I've known about the resurrection as long as I've known about the crucifixion. Have I become numb to the great sacrifice Jesus made? Do I just skip His death and go straight to His victory? I'm not saying that we should dwell morbidly on the suffering heaped on Jesus on the cross. But we do need to remember His love for us and that He paid a high cost for our freedom and redemption; this demands our love and loyalty in return. Lord, by all appearances You were dead and gone. The dreams of Your followers seemed to have come to an end. Mary had lost her first-born Son. But Sunday was coming, and what they didn't know was that their dreams were just beginning! Lord, when things in my life look bleak, when circumstances are overwhelming, remind me that Sunday has come and that the hope that arose on that Sunday morning is eternal! Thank You, Lord, that because of You, I am free to live in the light of Your hope! Amen. Jesus Changes Everything You changed the world when You were born, When You took that first baby-breath. You taught us how to love and live And atoned for our sins with Your death. Now I am clothed in Your righteousness, And You're the ascended King! Because of You I am heaven-bound, JESUS, YOU CHANGE EVERYTHING!