2020 Daily Devotion - Day 271

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A pastor was preparing a Christmas message and fell asleep in his study at the church. He dreamed that he was in a world into which Jesus had never come. He walked out on the streets, but no church spires pointed to heaven. He was summoned by a weeping child to visit her dying mother, but on arriving found that his Bible ended with the Old Testament. The New Testament, with all its promises of heaven, had disappeared from his Bible. He bowed his head and wept in bitter despair, for he could offer her no hope beyond the grave.

Suddenly the pastor was awakened by the choir down the hall practicing the familiar Christmas carols. Joy filled his soul as he realized as never before why we sing "Joy to the World the Lord Has Come!" (Our Daily Bread, Dec 20, 1992)

Have you ever considered what the world would be like if Christ had never come? Or have you ever thought about what your life would be like if God had not come into our world through our Lord Jesus Christ? It really would be a very shallow and hopeless existence. We would be left to ourselves and our own resources. However, it did not happen this way. The good news is God has done the unimaginable by becoming a man in Jesus to rescue us from “sin, death and the power of the devil”.

Galatians 4:4-5 ESV
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, Christmas is the constant reminder You have actually come into the world to save us. You have done this out of Your great love and mercy. Help us, this Christmas, to stay focused on this vital truth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Yours because of Him,
Pastor John R. Steward
Senior Pastor
Mount of Olives Church

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