-December 16, 2023-
Good morning beloved, happy Saturday,
“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory.”
(1 Timothy 3:16).
Today we have before us one of the great 3:16’s in the NT. The others are John 3:16 and 1 John 3:16. One of the greatest miracles of Scripture is the Incarnation of Christ. God came down from heaven in the form of man, yet without sin. Not only did He become a man, He became a baby. It was miraculous, unprecedented, and incredible!
John 1:14 says, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” Jesus chose His mother Mary, chose to be born in a manger, and chose to be born into a poor family. None of us can say we made any choices as to our birth and family in this world.
The hymn writer Charles Wesley penned the immortal words, “Christ, by highest heaven adored; Christ the everlasting Lord! Late in time behold Him come, offspring of the Virgin’s womb, veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail th’incarnate Deity, pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus our Emmanuel. Hark! the herald angels sing, ‘Glory to the newborn King.’”
The omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God became a tiny baby, grew up to be a Man, did the Father’s will fully, died for us on the cross, and rose again. It boggles our finite minds. He indeed veiled His deity in the body of humanity. He was fully God and fully man, all to fulfill the Father’s plan.
In 2 Corinthians 8:9, Paul wrote, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” He never owned a home, never had more than one outer garment, had no money of His own, and never held a political position, nor did He ever travel outside of Israel.
Let us worship and bow down before our King and give Him all the glory at Christmas and every day of the year. Have a blessed day. Stay safe and healthy.
From the lowly manger to the highest place in glory,
Dean
Dean Allen's Daily Devotional 