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December 30, 2024 @ 8:00 AM
The Bible clearly teaches all true Christians to defend the Christian Faith, which has been once and for all delivered unto the saints (Jude 1:3). The Apostle Paul charged all Christians with preserving and protecting the purity of the Gospel message, lest it, mankind's only hope of salvation, be lost to future generations. Indeed, Paul anathematized, called for the eternal damnation, of anyone preaching a false gospel, understanding that by doing so they were imperiling men's immortal souls (Galatians 1:8-9). To find such a staunch and scripturally commanded defense of the Christian Faith and Christ's Gospel today is rare, because anyone daring to do it will be roundly and readily lambasted and lampooned for it.
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I’ve saved my favorite Christmas passage for last. It is a passage that tells us of one of my favorite Bible characters, a man named Simeon. Truly, this elderly saint possessed a most precious trait that we would all do well to emulate.
Contrary to popular opinion, the wise men did not arrive at the Nativity scene. They arrived sometime later, when Christ was no longer in a stable, but a house. Upon entering the house, they immediately “saw the young child with Mary his mother.” However, It was really the child that they sought, He was the real focus of their attention. Likewise, as the Scripture admonishes us, we need to make Christ the focus of our attention (Hebrews 12:1-2). According to Lilias Trotter, who served for over thirty years as a missionary to Algeria’s Muslims, if we “turn [our] eyes upon Jesus [and] look full into His ...
The wise men were heathen astrologers from the east. They had undoubtedly observed in their study of the stars the appearance of a new star in the heavens. Upon inquiring about its possible meaning, they must have been informed of the ancient prophecy of the mysterious Prophet Balaam: “I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel” (Numbers 24:17). Thus, the wise men came to Jerusalem in search of Israel’s new born King.
It is most fitting that the birth of the Good Shepherd (John 10:11-18) was first announced to shepherds. The patriarchs were shepherds. David was a shepherd. The Prophet Amos was a shepherd. 
How shocking; the King of kings and Lord of lords was born in a stable. The reason, according to Luke, was that “there was no room for them in the inn.” The inn was too crowded with people and things. There was simply no available room or space left for the Savior.
Bethlehem was a small country town of about 300 people. It was located six miles south of Jerusalem. It was the birth place of the great king David and the home of Ruth and Boaz. Its only other claim to fame was an ancient prophecy made by the Prophet Micah. Micah had predicted that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). 
Mary’s visit to Elizabeth was undoubtedly made to confirm Mary’s faith in the angel’s annunciation of the birth of Christ (Luke 1:26-38). Remember, the angel informed Mary of her cousin’s miraculous conception—a conception in Elizabeth’s “old age”—as a proof of Mary’s miraculous conception—a conception wrought by the Holy Spirit that would result in the birth of God’s “holy” child. 
Mary’s initial consternation over her angelic visitor was quickly replaced with bewilderment over his announcement. How could she, a virgin, conceive and give birth to any child, let alone a Son who would be named “Jesus,” which means “THE SALVATION OF JEHOVAH”? In Mary’s mind, a son was out of the question, especially one who would be great, called the Son of the Highest, be given the throne of David, and reign over the house of Jacob forever. The angel had surely gotten the wrong address.
Introducing Jesus as “the Word” spoke volumes to the Jews of John’s day. The Jews believed that words were alive. Once spoken, they went forth to accomplish the purpose for which they were spoken. Thus, spoken words could not be recalled.