Without the Cradle

Luke 2:12
         "And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."
       
Have you ever considered without the cradle there wouldn't be the cross, and without the cross there wouldn't be salvation? Without salvation we wouldn't have the promise of heaven.

There is so much more to Christmas than a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. In the previous verses Luke tells of shepherds watching their flock by night.

           And behold an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."         Luke 2:9-11

When Christ came to earth as a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, He came as our Savior, to make us clean before the Father, to take away the sins of the world. He came to give us a promise of eternal life with Him.
       
            The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.!"              John 1:29

Without the cradle, Christ would have never faced the cross. Without the cross, we would be lost in our sins, facing a future of eternal damnation.

As I focus on Christmas, I will not longer just think of a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. I will think of my Savior, and how as a sweet little Babe He came for me, willing to take my punishment, that I may have life eternal with Him.

From the cradle to the cross, from the cross to Christ our Lord and Savior. This is Christmas!

Emmanuel, God with Us! Glory to Him in the Highest!!

Take Up Your Cross

Matthew 10:38
    And he who does not take up his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.

What does it mean to take up  your cross? I always thought it meant to take up your hardships, your burdens, and follow Jesus. Then I read what Jesus told His disciples,
 
   "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross
     and follow Me.                                                        Matthew 16:25

I realized that isn't what it means at all. Taking up our cross involves dying to ourselves, being willing to lay aside our desires for the sake of Christ. It means a willingness to live our entire life in fellowship with Jesus and in keeping with the principles of Kingdom living.

As I thought about this further, I thought about Jesus carrying His cross to Calvary. He was carrying the cross He would die on for our sins. As He carried His cross for us, we are to carry our cross for Him, by dying to ourselves.

As I pondered the sacrifices I must make to follow Christ, I thought of the things the Word of God tells me I must give up as a follower of Christ; pride, jealousy, unforgivingness, bitterness, fleshly lust, greed. Once again I realized Christ has given me more than I could ever give Him. In taking up my cross, denying myself, I am finding true freedom.

   "He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. 
                                                                                        Matthew 10:39

We are called to give up our desires, goals, and expectations and instead live a life pleasing to Christ, allow Him to direct our path. He promises so much more than we could ever find for ourselves.

   For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to  give you a future and a hope.  Jeremiah 29:11                      
                                         
The next time we feel we are making a sacrifice by taking up our cross, let's consider what we have given up, and rejoice in Christ and the life we have found.