This Christmas Do Not Underestimate Jesus

No one knows for sure how many people actually held in their arms the baby Jesus.
What we do know for sure is that none of them fully understood the quality of the life they held in their arms.

There is one story in the book of Luke where an elderly Jewish man received from the Holy Spirit a revelation of at least a part of Jesus' true worth.

And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.  And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.  So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law,  he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:
“Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,
According to Your word;
For my eyes have seen Your salvation
Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.”
And Joseph and His mother[h] marveled at those things which were spoken of Him.  Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

Luke 2:25-25

Simeon did not know everything about Jesus but he did not underestimate him.  He confidently spoke what He knew was true of the child he held in his arms.

Every disciple of Jesus holds Jesus in the arms of their interior life.  Every disciple is a Bethlehem where the presence of Jesus rests waiting to be revealed.

This Christmas ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you exactly who it is that you hold with the arms of  your inner life.  He will.

To underestimate Jesus is the greatest mistake we can make as humans.  We may not know all that He is but what we have received from the Holy Spirit about Him we can affirm this Christmas.

This Christmas do not underestimate Jesus.  He is all and is in all who believe. Hold Him and declare what you know.

 

Bud McCord

Abide International

The Words of Jesus

Jesus called special attention to His own words.  He measured His relationship with His disciples by their appreciation of and obedience to His words. We should learn to take the words that came directly from Jesus’ mouth very seriously.

The authors of the Scriptures faithfully received and recorded inspired words from God to bless mankind.  Only Jesus became those words fulfilled in flesh and blood and spoke as the voice of God with us.

Jesus’ words are a fulfillment of the Scriptures that were given before He was born.
All of the written words of Scripture find their final fulfillment in the Person and Life of Jesus.  Every word of the Scriptures is written so that we will hear Jesus.

Reserve a special place in your inner life for the words that came from the mouth of God made flesh among us.  Hearing Him and obeying Him continues to be the measure of our discipleship.

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

John 8:31-32

 

Bud McCord

Abide International