Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 62:6-7, 10-12

Key Verse: And they shall be called The Holy People, The Redeemed of the Lord; and you shall be called Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken. ~Isaiah 62:12

"Christ is born! Glorify Him! Christ descends from the heavens, welcome Him! Christ is now on earth, O be jubilant! Sing to the Lord, the whole earth, and sing praises to Him with joy, O ye people, For He has been exalted!" (An Orthodox Christmas Hymn)

Today we celebrate that one period of waiting is over, Christ the Redeemer promised long ago has been born. Salvation has come and we are given new life through Him who was born to a virgin. And as we celebrate this fulfillment we are given hope as we continue to wait for his final coming, when He will return in power and glory to establish His Kingdom forever.

The people of Isaiah’s time had spent so long waiting for salvation that they may have felt like giving up, may have felt like God had forgotten them and abandoned them. Today, on this celebration of Christ’s birth, we are reminded that by sending his Son to be born as a human, God was definitively saying he had not forgotten or abandoned his people. Jesus’ birth was a declaration that God was pursuing his people at all costs.

“You shall be called Sought Out, a City Not Forsaken” (Isa 62:12)

As you celebrate today and over the coming days of the Christmas season, remind yourself that you have been sought out by God. Take the Christmas season to rejoice in the fact that your salvation has come and that you are have not been forsaken. The waiting and the preparation may have been toilsome and painful. Give thanks for the Christmas message of the angels:

“For today a Saviour has been born for you in the city of David: he is Christ the Lord” (Lk 2:11)

Happy Christmas!

For Further Reading: Titus 3:4-7 Luke 2:1-20 Psalm 97

Come O King ©2012 Micah J. Chisholm

On a dark night in Bethlehem a tiny baby cried His father smiled with great delight; With joy his mother sighed In that night God’s love shone bright, Soon all the world would see That as this babe became a man, Salvation he would bring

Come O King and Prince of Peace Son of God and Son of Man Beneath the shadow of the star Wise men came from afar To marvel at your humble birth When God came down and kissed the earth

The child grew up to be a man in whom the Spirit did abide His life was his Father’s pride, In the shadow his mother cried She could see the coming day, Her dying son on Calvary That as they lifted up this man, Salvation he would bring

Come O King and Savior blest Child of Mary, Word Made Flesh Beneath the shadow of the cross This mystery, this sacred loss We draw near the Father’s throne God came down, to call us home

From the grave he arose, angels again did sing The firstborn of the dead he is with great rejoicing On that day God’s power was shown, for all the world to see Conqueror of sin and death, Salvation he will bring

Come O King and Lord of all By your Spirit rule in us Draw your children near and far To our home with you above

Come O King O Holy Child We wait your coming again this night Come O King Emmanuel Come with us here now to dwell

A Prayer for the Christmas Season

Heavenly Father, In your great love you have sent your Son Jesus Christ into the world Even though time and again we have failed you heed you call to repentance Even though we have not pursued justice and not looked after those in need Still, you have called us to be your people, redeemed by your Son As we look back to his humble entrance into our broken world Teach us to be humble people As we look back to his life of truth, compassion and love Teach us to be people who stand for truth and extend your healing love As we look back to his sacrificial death on the cross Teach us to be people of sacrificial love for others As we look back at his resurrection and ascension to glory Teach us to live resurrected lives empowered by new life in the Holy Spirit As we stand poised in the present, between what has been done, what is being done and what will be done when Christ returns Teach us to be faithful people Teach us to be Advent people Teach us to be Christmas people Teach us to live in the reality of Christ, who has come and will come again He is our hope He is our joy He is our peace Amen.