Greetings!
This time of year we often hear among Christian circles the phrase, “Jesus is the Reason for the Season” to remind a selfishly grasping, materialistic and secular world what Christmas is supposed to be about.
In truth, JESUS is the REASON for EVERYTHING THAT EXISTS!! It was Father God’s intention from the very beginning that His Beloved Son should be exalted… Jesus’ revealing prayer recorded in John 17 gives us a glimpse into the relationship that exists between the Father and the Son from eternity – before time. Part of the Plan was to bring into being “a vast family” of others like Himself TO WHOM He could show His MATCHLESS GRACE, WITH WHOM He could share JOYFUL FELLOWSHIP, and UPON WHOM He could bestow His INFINITE LOVE AND BLESSINGS.
It is interesting that, in the beginning of his Gospel, John refers to Jesus as “the only begotten from the Father.” Throughout the narrative, Jesus spoke of “THE Father” and “MY Father.” But in His resurrection He added “MY Father and YOUR Father.” By His Incarnation and Cross He has added many sons to God’s family, and so He speaks of them as “my brethren.” “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirits that we are children of God.” By His exaltation you and I receive the Spirit of Adoption whereby we too may now call Him “our Father.” (John 20:17; Heb. 2:10; Rom. 8:15)
A special greeting card we once received contained a message that was worth keeping, and sharing with my readers again this year. It has to do with that “Love and Blessing” that He came to bestow upon us. With just a little re-arranging, here it is:
Because Jesus came we can -
…be alive toward God,
…be justified freely,
…be under Grace,
…be a child of God,
…be His heir,
…have Peace with God,
…be filled with all Joy,
…abound in Hope,
…have the Spirit of Wisdom,
…know the Hope of His calling,
…be conformed to His image,
…have victory,
…be more than conquerors,
…be strengthened with might by His Spirit,
…live a more abundant Life.
…know the riches of the glory of His inheritance,
…be enriched by Him in everything,
…be to the praise of His Glory,
…be rooted and grounded in love,
…be renewed day by day,
…be blessed with all spiritual blessings,
…be filled with His fullness,”
…have a HOPE laid up in Heaven.”
Jesus is the Reason for all that we are, and all that we have, “for BY HIM were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions, or principalities, or powers. All things were created BY HIM, and FOR HIM, and HE is before all things, and BY HIM all things consist. And HE is the Head of the body, the Church; (HE) Who is the beginning, the Firstborn from the dead, that in all things HE might have the preeminence, for it pleased the Father that IN HIM all fullness should dwell.” Our Lord is worthy to receive glory and honor and power, for HE has created all things, and for HIS pleasure they are and were created.” (Col. 1:16-19; Rev. 4:11)
May you be blessed in “knowing” Christ Jesus, and experiencing the fullness of the reason for which He came. Had He not humbled Himself to become incarnate in human flesh; and had he not become obedient unto death, even the death of the cross; and had He not been raised from the dead and highly exalted at the right hand of the Father; we could not know the Life, Love, Joy, Peace, and Hope that is ours through Faith in Him.
“Now the God of all HOPE fill you with all JOY and PEACE in the believing,
that you may abound in HOPE
through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
(Romans 15:13)
In Agape, Eulene
Thank you!!