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Pocket Sized Thoughts – Christmas – Part 12

We have seen His star.” (Matthew 2:2)

These were men who were probably from modern day Iraq, or Iran. Whoever they were, they were totally outside the covenant relationship God had with His ancient people, Israel. The promises and benefits normally did not extend to them. Yet, there was still hope. In God’s amazing economy of mercy and grace, even those who were far off and distant could still find the King of kings, the one born King. In Isaiah 60:3 it speaks of “gentiles coming to your light and kings to the brightness of your rising.” They literally had to see the light. And, once they did, they acted. They did not stay in their comfortable homes, or private studies, but left and embarked upon an epic journey which would have taken many weeks. They left all to find Christ, the King. Have you seen His light? And, more importantly, having seen it, have you responded to it. It does not matter how far away you are, or have been, if God’s light has shone to you, it beckons you to come. Rise up and go and find Him, as these wise men did. Wise men still seek Him.

PRAYER :- “Lord, thank you that you have placed a guiding light in this dark world so that I may find you.”


Pocket Sized Thoughts – Christmas – Part 11

A sword shall pierce your own soul also.” (Luke 2:35)

These are strange words indeed which Simeon spoke to Mary after he had given thanks to the Lord. Amid all the joy and wonder of Christ’s birth, there is a note here of the future of the cross. The birth and life of Jesus was exceptional in every respect but it is only by His sacrificial death that His salvation is made available to us. It involved pain and suffering. It will also be painful to us as the message of the cross will cut through all the natural desires of our lives. This was not a feature that Mary reckoned upon in her life. Often, it is not with us either. So, when unexpected, or difficult things happen, we may be surprised. But, in the hands of God all events can be used by Him as part of the work of the cross in our lives. God wants to put to death all natural dependencies and every inclination of the flesh to replace it with total dependency upon Him alone and make us people who live according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh. This is the work of the cross and the reason why Jesus was born and became man. Has He been born in you so that the work of the cross may be done in your life?

PRAYER :- “Lord, thank you that your death as well as your birth works salvation in my soul.”


Pocket Sized Thoughts – Christmas – Part 10

My eyes have seen your salvation.” (Luke 2:30)

According to the law of Moses, Jesus was circumcised eight days after his birth. Mary then underwent a ritual purifying for another 33 days (Leviticus 12:2-4) before she and Joseph presented their son before the Lord in the Temple at Jerusalem. Whilst they were there a man called Simeon was also there. The Holy Spirit was upon Him and had revealed something very special to Him (v.26) and that moment he entered the temple by the Spirit. Simeon would have been conscious of the Holy Spirit doing something special at that time. When he saw Jesus, Simeon spoke that he had seen the Lord’s salvation. It takes the Spirit of God to open our eyes to see what and who Jesus really is. We cannot perceive these things by our natural reasoning. By the Spirit, God will shine into our hearts to give knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6). But Simeon did not only speak. He gathered Jesus up into his arms and thanked God. It is wonderful when God opens our eyes to see the Christ, but we must also embrace Him, that is, fully take Him to ourselves. When we do this with understanding given by the Spirit, the heart’s response is to thank and bless God. Have we really seen Jesus? Have we gathered Him up into our lives? May the Lord lead us so that we also will say, with Simeon, that our eyes have seen His salvation.

PRAYER :- “Lord, thank you that your Spirit can reveal to my poor understanding all that Jesus is.”


Pocket Sized Thoughts – Christmas – Part 9

And, there were shepherds, staying in the field.” (Luke 2:8)

Of all people for God to make the first announcement of the birth of His Son to, He chose shepherds. God by-passed kings, politicians, armies, financiers, ‘celebrities’ (all of whom are acclaimed in our modern society) and sent an angel to a mixture of men staying out at night, away from all the comforts of home, looking after sheep (not even the more valuable cows!). As they sat, they were only waiting for the cold night to pass. They were not expecting anything. Imagine their shock and fear as an angel in full glory appeared to them. As the announcement of Christ’s birth was made, they were not told to seek Him, but only where they should find Him. We are not ordered to seek, but if we do seek, we shall find. One angel was then joined with vast numbers of others, all praising God. It was amazing that no-one else seemed to hear, or see it. Once the angels had left, the shepherds left all that they were doing to go and find Christ. They didn’t wait to see if the angels may return, but went quickly, without delay, to Bethlehem. This was their priority and once they had found what they were looking for, they were not disappointed. It was as it had been told them (v.20). All expectation was exceeded and they shared it with others. Does the wonder of Christ cause us up to rise up quickly and see it all for ourselves? Or, are we content to remain in that which is familiar?

PRAYER :- “Lord, help me to rise up and respond by going to where I am told You will be.”


Pocket Sized Thoughts – Christmas – Part 8

There was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:7)

These are well known words with an almost equally well known meaning. Due to a Roman census, Joseph and Mary, his heavily pregnant wife, had to remove from Nazareth and go to Bethlehem, their original home. It was a journey of 80-90 miles and would have taken at least 3 days. People were on the move everywhere and it was an incredibly busy time. Places to stay were at a premium. Everywhere was occupied. Because there was no room anywhere else, one innkeeper (or, perhaps his wife?), out of pity, offered them a stable. There, amidst the dirt and the smells, virtually unnoticed, Christ was born. It is incredible to think that possibly the first witnesses of Christ’s birth may have been domesticated animals (donkeys, sheep, goats, etc) – part of the Creation He had made. Many people would confess that the birth of Christ was important, but the busyness of life overtakes us. In our rush to get things done, we can so easily make no room for Jesus. Other ‘lodgers’ fill the inn of our lives. Don’t allow other things to crowd out Jesus. Give Him space and give Him time and you will be amazed at what He can do in your life. He can transform the humblest of ‘stables’ and beginnings.

PRAYER :- “Lord, don’t allow my schedules to have the pre-eminence over you; I give you room in my life.”


Pocket Sized Thoughts – Christmas – Part 7

That we may serve Him without fear in holiness and righteousness all the days of our life.” (Luke 1:74-75)

When the cousin of Jesus, John the Baptist, was born and named, these words were part of the prophecy given by his father, Zacharias. Because of his unbelief, Zacharias had not spoken for nine months. After declaring, by writing, that the child’s name was to be John, his mouth was opened, his tongue loosened and he began to speak and praise God (Luke 1:64). Extraordinary things happen when we obey and believe. It allows the Holy Spirit to work. As Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, he prophesied about a horn of salvation being raised up for us (Luke 1:69). A horn, in this context, is like a rallying point, or cry, announcing what God was about to do. This refers to the salvation, which would become available through the Lord Jesus Christ. Part of this salvation is not only being saved from our sins (the negative aspect, if you like), but being delivered in order (the positive aspect) that we should have a new basis of relationship with God. That is, all dread of God would be gone and that our natural propensity to sin and fail would be replaced by holiness and righteousness … for ever. This is not possible with us, but it is possible with God when the Holy Spirit does His amazing work of new birth in our lives. All this is possible because of the glorious incarnation of the Son of God.

PRAYER :- “Lord, thank you, that through Jesus and the Holy Spirit, you have come to change the inner nature of my life.”


Pocket Sized Thoughts – Christmas – Part 6

The Holy Spirit will come upon you.” (Luke 1:35)

These words were spoken to Mary. An angel had come and announced that she would give birth to a son even before she ever sexually knew a man. The promises of ‘her child’ being the Son of the Highest (i.e. God), having the throne of David, ruling the house of Jacob and having an unending kingdom (verses 32 and 33) were indeed wonderful. However, as incredible as these promises were, her natural reaction was to ask how these things were going to happen. This was not a question of unbelief as seen in Zacharias (Luke 1:18), but a genuine enquiry from a willing soul. In reply, it was said that the Holy Spirit would come upon her. In other words, that same Holy Spirit would undertake all the responsibility. All that was required of her was compliance. Listen to her gracious, willing answer :- “Be it unto me according to your word” (v.38). This was the response of a loving, believing and obedient heart. She was willing to place her entire self at God’s disposal. No conditions, just fully affectionate submission. Nothing further needed to be said and the angel left. When we properly transact with the Lord, as Mary did, we can leave it all with Him. There is no need to add anything. With such loving surrender, the Holy Spirit will cause the life of God’s Son to be born in us; or to put it another way, another son of God will be born. This is true new birth.

PRAYER :- “Lord, thank you we can be born again by your Spirit; help me to bow and to believe.”


Pocket Sized Thoughts – Christmas – Part 5

They shall call His name Immanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” (Matthew 1:23)

Prophesied over 600 years earlier by Isaiah, the birth of Christ Jesus is the fulfilment of that word. This, that is ‘God with us’ is His primary name, or description. As we have been previously considering, all the wonder of the eternal Godhead has come to be alongside and deeply involved with the human race. He is no detached, or capricious god bestowing perceived favours upon a select few. No matter how far we think we have wandered away from Him, He is utterly available to us all. The other name He was given was, of course, Jesus (Matthew 1:21). This also is highly descriptive as it means that He will save His people from the ravages and destructive power of sin. God with us to do what we could not do for ourselves, that is to save from the destruction of sin. If we will allow Him and own Him as both Lord and Saviour, He will not only and simply be, God with us, but He will also become God in us, ‘Christ in us, the hope of glory’ (Colossians 1:27). This is the reason of His coming and the plan of His salvation. No longer the everlasting, all-powerful God limited to one very special Person upon the earth, but really living in as many who will truly receive Him. How He does this will be thought about next, but is it so for you?

PRAYER :- “Lord, thank you that your names have such depth of meaning; help me to experience all that they mean in my life.”


Pocket Sized Thoughts – Christmas – Part 4

I was set up from everlasting. From the beginning, or ever the earth was …. I was brought forth.” (Proverbs 8:22,23)

Inspired by the Holy Spirit, the author of Proverbs chapter 8 (probably Solomon) wrote thus of wisdom. But as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:30, “Christ Jesus … is made unto us, wisdom …” Therefore, these verses in Proverbs (please do read 8:22-31) can be interpreted to equally apply to the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ. When read like this, the majesty of Creation is set alongside the even greater majesty of the Lord Jesus Himself. Before there were mountains, depths, rivers, clouds, etc., and even while the heavens and the stars were being prepared, He was there (v.27). All things were created by Him and also for Him (Colossians 1:16). The purpose of Creation was to sing of His glory and declare all His handiwork (see Psalm 19:1). How much more when He came to live on the very earth He created. One can almost imagine every flower He passed by, expressing its gratitude to Him who created it. These are His delights (v.31). How much more He rejoices when people turn to Him and acknowledge their Creator, who has become human. Is your life His delight? If not, turn to Him this season so that He may rejoice over you.

PRAYER :- “Lord, thank you that you created me to bring you delight and not shame.”


Pocket Sized Thoughts – Christmas – Part 3

He humbled Himself, making Himself as nothing, took upon Himself the form of a servant, made in the likeness of men.” (Philippians 2:7)

These are incredible thoughts. The Lord of all glory, the Creator-Sovereign of the entire universe humbled Himself by becoming human. His deity was not a prize, or title to be held onto at any cost. And, far from letting go, or losing out on something, that is, His deity, He took something on, that is, the structure of a man slave. Christ was and still is, God; only the form changed. And, not becoming any kind of man, but one who was a servant, to serve. These thoughts alone should stop us in our tracks and make us bow before His superlative greatness. Think of it; the Supreme King, not coming to crush us, nor even to present us with an impossible standard to live up to, but to come to gently serve, lead and guide to know more of Him. As Charles Wesley wrote in one of his hymns, “God contracted to a span, incomprehensibly made man.” It is a mystery and defies explanation, but it is not esoteric and all mysterious. The simplest child can know and believe and thus, embrace all that it means of God taking on human flesh and living among us. Wonder of wonders, God incarnate!

PRAYER :- “Lord, thank you that you ever came to help and serve me in my lost estate.”