Isaiah recorded a promise of God that a child, in fact a son, would be born and he would be the Savior that the World was looking for.  Luke records the fulfillment of that promise in Luke 2.  This is what he wrote.

"And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born.  She gave birth to her first child, a son.  She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger.  Because there was no lodging available for them.  That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep.  Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them.  They were terrified, but the angel reassured them.  "Don't be afraid!" he said.  "I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.  The Savior - yes, the Messiah, the Lord - has been born today in Bethelehem, the city of David!  And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger."  Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others - the armies of heaven - praising God and saying, "Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased."

It was not group of followers, or any historian, or even Jesus himself, who first established the claim that Jesus was the fulfillment of that promise.  It was angels.

The promise was made.  The promise was fulfilled.

Today as we enter one of the holiest of seasons, we, like Israel, have received promises from God.  We have been promised that Jesus would return again.  And we have been promised that we will be transformed to to be like him.  We have been promised the presence and the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  We have been promised joy unspeakable, peace beyond understanding, life overflowing, and love that is unshakable.

The promise has been made.  The promise will be fulfilled.

May the Spirit of Christmas renew your faith in the promises and enlarge your desire to see them come to pass.  And may the Spirit of Christmas once again bring to life the life of Christ within your heart.  The Son of God had no problem first coming to a manger.  Your heart is more than a manger.

Pam and I wish each and every one of you a Merry Christmas and the blessings of the Messiah's birth in and through your life.

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