November 30
“His Birth and Our New Birth,” by Linda Everly
‘Behold the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us.’ (Matthew 1:23)
“...that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35). Jesus Christ was born into this world, not from it. He came into history from the outside. Jesus Christ is not the best human being the human race can boast of - He is a Being for whom the human race can take no credit at all. He is not man becoming God, but God Incarnate - God coming into human flesh from outside it. His life is the highest and holiest entering through the most humble of doors. Our Lord’s birth was an advent - the appearance of God in human form. (Oswald Chambers)
Just as our Lord came into human history from outside it, He must also come into each of us from outside. Have we allowed our personal human lives to become a “Bethlehem” for the Son of God? We cannot enter the realm of the kingdom of God unless we are born again from above by a birth totally unlike physical birth. “You must be born again” (John 3:7). At the time of this rebirth, we yield ourselves so completely to God that Christ is formed in us. He indwells us and begins His work through us.
This is what is made so profoundly possible for all of the human race by the redemption of man by Jesus Christ.
Let us remember our redemptive rebirth as we celebrate the birth of our Redeemer.
Almighty God, thank you for your Son. Thank you for our redemption. Thank you!
