I was out on an evening walk, taking in the Christmas lights; I saw that some displays were only about Santa Claus at their sites…
But, really, we are celebrating the important and very One, through Whom to us came Christmas–Jesus Christ, God’s Son.
As the Light of the World, He came to us as God’s precious gift, sent down to earth to save sinners who, without Him…are adrift.
Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, which is enduring… He is Christ, the Lord, who is our eternal, strong mooring.
This One who walked and ministered along the Galilee shore… invites us to trust Him as Savior and Shepherd–for He said, “I am the door.”
P. A. Oltrogge
“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.’” John 8:12
“Then Jesus said to them again, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.’” John 10: 7-10
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” John 14:6
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8
“Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” Galatians 4:3-5
The Hebrew people had prayed for a deliverer to be their long-promised King. While living under Roman rule, they looked for the answer that God would bring.
Then it came to pass that two little babies were born in the same time span. The lives of each one of them would be major in God’s great redemptive plan.
One would be a prophet named John, the baptizer, and was the son of Zacharias, the priest. The other was Jesus, who would be the focus and celebration of God’s greatest Passover Feast.
John’s mother, Elizabeth, had longed for a child and rejoiced at the birth of her son. And Jesus’ mother, Mary, told the angel who came that God’s will for her should be done.
The angel, Gabriel, had first appeared to Zacharias and told him what to name his son…John, “The Lord is gracious,” a preparer of the way for the Messiah, God’s Anointed One.
When betrothed, Mary’s Joseph had gained assurance from God, by having been visited in a dream too. Mary stayed with her cousin, Elizabeth, for a time, before her own baby would become due.
These four parents realized, through faith, the significance of those entrusted to their care. A messenger of God, and Immanuel, “God With Us,” were birthed in answer to prayer.
P. A. Oltrogge
(from Luke 1 and Matthew 1:18-25)
“It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.” Isaiah 65:24
God’s words in the Garden of Eden, after Adam and Eve disobeyed Him, to the serpent (Satan) about a Redeemer: “And I will put enmity (open hostility) between you and the woman, And between your seed (offspring) and her Seed; He shall (fatally) bruise your head, And you shall (only) bruise His heel.” Genesis 3:15 AMP (the promise/prediction of Jesus’ birth, His redemption for us through the shedding of His blood on the cross, and His victory over Satan)
“…for the devil has sinned and violated God’s law from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.” from 1 John 3:8 AMP
“For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.” Colossians 1:19-20 NKJV
Written of Jesus:
“And the angel said unto her, ‘Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest, and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father, David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.’ Then said Mary unto the angel, ‘How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?’ And the angel answered and said unto her, ‘The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible.’ And Mary said, ‘Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.’ And the angel departed from her.” Luke 1:30-38 KJV
Written of John:
“And his father, Zacharias, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying… ‘And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go on before the Lord to prepare His ways, to give to His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, with which the Sunrise from on high shall visit us, to shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.’” Luke 1:67 and 76-79 NASB
To many, Christmas is about finding that special gift and wrapping it up with a bow; but JESUS is the true “Reason for the Season” amidst the winter’s snow.
Today is the day that Christmas shopping officially seems to start… Giving Christmas on the Porch as a gift can be an expression of God’s heart.
I’m proud of Almighty God, who does all things well…
And I’m proud of His Son, who defeated satan and hell.
I’m thankful for Jesus’ followers, who are led by the Holy Spirit…
with that still, small voice and yet they’re eager and able to hear it.
I’m proud of God’s Word, His truth is marching on thereby…
I’m thankful for His love and every gift sent down to us from on high.
P. A. Oltrogge
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. James 1:17
Then He commanded them that they should tell no one; but the more He commanded them, the more widely they proclaimed it. And they were astonished beyond measure, saying “He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.” Mark 7:36-37
For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. John 1:17-18
Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me, has seen the Father… John 14:9
When Jesus had risen from the dead, His first appearance was to Mary Magdalene. On the evening of the same day, where the disciples were gathered, He came again upon the scene.
“Peace be with you,” He shared with them, showing them His hands and side. “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you,” was the immediate instruction from their beloved Master, teacher, and guide.
He breathed on them, saying to receive the Holy Spirit, and that He was sending them out to declare…the forgiveness of sins through His shed blood for all with whom they would ultimately share.
Thomas hadn’t been present at that wonderful moment, so only later, was he told. His fellow disciples were saying that they, too, had seen the Lord–but Thomas’s reaction to this was cold.
“Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”
Eight days later, Jesus again appeared to the disciples; but this time, Thomas was there. Again, Jesus greeted them with His peace but turned to Thomas with words of faith that He began to share.
“Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
Of course, Thomas declared, “My Lord and my God!” He now believed with every fiber of his being. Yet Jesus wanted him (and us) to understand that believing is seeing!
Jesus said, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Lord, may this teaching of Yours on faith, and faith in You, be one that’s wholeheartedly received.
Some people today, too, have doubts that the resurrection of Jesus from the dead actually took place. But be blessed to believe, as Jesus said, in the miracle of His resurrection–the unmerited gift to us of God’s love and grace.
P. A. Oltrogge
(Based on the account in John 20)
“And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” John 20:30-31 NKJV
“For He says: ‘In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold, nowis the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2
“Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths, reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, ‘This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.’ And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas.” Acts 17:1-4
This Jesus… Who suffered and died and rose again from the dead– This Jesus is the Christ, the Chief Cornerstone and Head of His Church.
Through this Jesus… our lives can take on a whole new scope… The Father has provided us new birth into a living hope.
P. A. Oltrogge
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ…” 1 Peter 1:3 NIV
“Therefore, it is also contained in the Scripture, ‘Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.’” 1 Peter 2:6 NKJV (…from 1 Peter 2:4-10)
Psalm 118:22; Isaiah 28:16; Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; Ephesians 2:19
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The Church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord. She is His new creation, by water and the word. From Heaven He came and sought her to be His holy bride. With His own blood He bought her, and for her life He died.
Hymn author: S. J. Stone
(Acts 20:28; Ephesians 5:25-26)
The above image of Jesus used by permission of artist, Bob Berran
We’ve heard the Word, and faith has grown–Jesus is our Cornerstone!
P. A. Oltrogge
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in theworld. They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” 1 John 4:1-6
“…let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone. Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:10-12
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Oh Lord, my God When I, in awesome wonder Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder Thy power throughout the universe displayed
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee How great Thou art, how great Thou art Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee How great Thou art, how great Thou art
And when I think that God, His Son not sparing Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing He bled and died to take away my sin
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee How great Thou art, how great Thou art Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee How great Thou art, how great Thou art
When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart Then I shall bow, in humble adoration And then proclaim, my God, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee How great Thou art, how great Thou art Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee How great Thou art, how great Thou art How great Thou art, how great Thou art
“Then my enemies will be turned back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me.” Psalm 56:9
In any situation that you may be in, these words remind that God wants you to win. This I know, that God is for me… lifts you above the things that are “stormy.”
P. A. Oltrogge
Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Yes, Jesus loves me…
“Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs, And carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.” Isaiah 40:11
“In the same way, the Spirit helps our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27 NASB
“With all prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:18 NASB
“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” 2 Corinthians 2:14
“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” Matthew 7:24-27
“The righteous person is rescued from trouble, and it falls on the wicked instead.” Proverbs 11:8 NIV
“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.” Psalm 34:17-18
“In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah Psalm 62:7-8
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” Psalm 23 KJV
…and the depiction of Jesus, above, can also remind us, who are under the care of the Good Shepherd, to pray for those who are lost…
“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.” Luke 15:4-7
“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32 KJV
“Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.’”John 8:58 NKJV
“Fear not, little flock…” for I AM your fortress, and I AM your rock.
My Word has endured throughout the ages, and I have been revealed in the holy Bible’s pages.
In perilous times that are evident in these days, you’ll sense My peace and presence as you offer Me praise.
My name and blood over your life are a powerful shield. My blood was shed for you for the benefits it would yield.
The world is passing away and the lust thereof; yet nothing will be able to separate you from My love.
I will never leave you, nor will I ever forsake you… Remember that, when troubles try, at times, to overtake you.
Call upon Me in the day of trouble, amid its distress, for I AM the Lord of all…and have all the power to bless.
So, trust your Lord Jesus and fear not, little flock… In Me, there’s safe harbor where your disciple-“ship” can dock.
P. A. Oltrogge
“Walk with Me,” by Greg Olsen. Used with Permission: www.GregOlsen.com
“Be to me a rock of refuge and a sheltering stronghold to which I may continually come; You have given the commandment to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress.” Psalm 71:3 AMP
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.” 2 Timothy 3:1 KJV
“Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” Psalm 50:15 NKJV
“Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 RSV
“In the day of my trouble I will call upon You, For You will answer me. Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord; Nor are there any works like Your works.” Psalm 86:7-8 NKJV
“…For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” Hebrews 13:5 NKJV
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1 KJV
“They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, and consulted together against Your sheltered ones….Let them be confounded and dismayed forever; Yes, let them be put to shame and perish, that they may know that You, whose name alone is the Lord; are the Most High over all the earth.” Psalm 83:3, 17-18 NKJV
“Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies; In You I take shelter.” Psalm 143:9 NKJV
“The Lord also will roar from Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; The heavens and earth will shake; But the Lord will be a shelter for His people, and the strength of the children of Israel.” Joel 3:16 NKJV
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most high will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!’” Psalm 91:1-2 and all of Psalm 91
“And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:17 NKJV
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: ‘For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.’ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:35-39 NKJV
“For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.” Colossians 1:19-20
In Exodus 12, an unblemished lamb was slain and its blood was applied to the lintel and doorposts of the homes of the Hebrews for their protection and deliverance. Through His crucifixion, where His blood was shed on our behalf, Jesus became God’s pure sacrificial Lamb. Before His death, He said, “It is finished.”
Looking for a trusted leader? Then, you need to look no more, for Jesus Christ is the leader every one of us is looking for.
Kingdoms of this world arise, and there are those that fall; but Christ and His eternal kingdom reign preeminently over them all.
We can read of the rulers of history, both the bad or the good; but it’s the Lordship of Jesus Christ that must be fully understood.
Sent from His Father, God, Jesus came to us as a servant, sharing God’s love on earth in a manner that was selfless and fervent.
He emptied Himself of His position, to live and die as a man, winning redemption for all who’ll believe, in fulfillment of God’s plan.
He spoke of His Father’s goodness, and He told us how to live. He said that we were to love others, to serve them, and to forgive.
Jesus said that if we followed Him, we’d actually find what’s best. He taught the importance of prayer, and that, thereby, we’d be blessed.
Looking for a trusted leader? He can be contacted from any nation. “If anyone is in Christ, they’ve become a new creation.”
Receive, for yourself, Jesus’ leadership, the ruler who shall reign forever. What a true and faithful King He is. Will He fail us or forsake us? Never!
P. A. Oltrogge
“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Philippians 2:5-8 NASB
“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?’” Matthew 16:24-25 NKJV
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12-13 KJV
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV
“And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” John 16:23-24 NKJV
“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.” Matthew 6:9-13 KJV
“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 NKJV
“Love never fails….” 1 Corinthians 13:8 NKJV
“Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” Hebrews 13:5 NKJV
“Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever.’” Revelation 11:15 NKJV
“And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, ‘Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns.’”
“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True….”
“And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” Revelation 19:6, 11, and 16 NKJV
The Porch of the Lord 