OUR DAILY BREAD : A REAL CHRISTMAS

[cimi]

December 19
Wednesday


A REAL
CHRISTMAS

READ:
Luke 2:25-35
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This Child is destined
for the fall and rising
of many in Israel, and
for a sign which will be
spoken against.
__ Luke 2:34
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A quotation in our church's Advent devotional guide caused me to rethink my approach to Christmas:

"Let us at all costs avoid the temptation to make our Christmas worship a withdrawal from the stress and sorrow of life into a realm of unreal beauty. It was into the real world that Christ came, into the city where there was no room for Him, and into a country where Herod, the murderer of innocents, was king.

"He comes to us, not to shield us from the harshness of the world but to give us the courage and strength to bear it; not to snatch us away by some miracle from the conflict of life, but to give us peace__His peace--in our hearts, by which we may be calmly steadfast while the conflict rages, and be able to bring to the torn world the healing that is peace."

When Mary and Joseph presented the infant Jesus to the Lord, Simeon said to them: "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 2:34-35).

Christmas is not a retreat from reality but an advance into it alongside the Prince of Peace. __ David McCasland
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~Christ did not come to shield us from~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The grief and pain of life;~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~But those who have His peace inside~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Can thrive within the strife. __ Sper~~~~~~~~~~
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Jesus came to give light to a dark world.

************Today's Bible Reading __ Luke 2:25-35*****************

25 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. 26 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. 27 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, 28 he
took Him up in his arms
and blessed God and said:

29 "Lord, now You are
letting Your servant depart
in peace, according to Your
word; 30 for my eyes have
seen Your salvation 31 which
You have prepared before
the face of all peoples, 32 a
light to bring revelation to
the Gentiles, and the glory
of Your people Israel."

35 And Joseph and His
mother marveled at those
things which were spoken
of Him. 34 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 35 (yes, a sword will
pierce through your own
soul also), that the thoughts
of many hearts may be
revealed."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14). The
word dwelt is the Greek word for "tabernacle." It could literally be
translated, "the Word tabernacled among us," In the Old Testament,
God's presence resided in the portable tent called the tabernacle
(Ex. 40:34), but when Jesus entered our world He took on human
flesh to dwell among us. __ HDF