“And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed (registered). (And the taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

And all went to be taxed (registered), every one onto his own city.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, unto Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David;)

To be taxed with Mary, his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that, while they were there the days were accomplished (completed) that she should be delivered. 

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger (feed trough), because there was no room for them in the Inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them (stood before them), and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day, in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Luke 2: 1-14

I so started to drop that off at my title verse, “to be delivered”, but who could possibly drop off the Christmas story, no matter how many times you may have heard it or read it, so beautiful, the GREATEST event in human history, the GREATEST gift ever to be given, the story of the heralding of the angels to proclaim to the humblest of men, to go forth to welcome their true King.

No greater moment, even in the resurrection, as I had often felt was the greatest, but no, had we not been blessed with his miraculous birth, born to a young virgin peasant girl there would NEVER have been a resurrection lest he be born, as we do, coming into this earth as a precious infant.

The account of his birth is the very crux of our belief.

And I suppose that many would probably wonder why, why did God want to have His Son, His only Son born into this world to die?

And being God why could he have just not saved us all some other way, well, man fell, when Adam and Eve disobeyed in the garden and sin was unleashed, all of mankind fell, we then were born into sin, actually brought into the world, a world of sin, and of course babies and children ARE pure, they are perfectly pure and absolutely blameless before God.

But as we grow and mature and are surrounded by the influences of this world of sin, we, just by nature, fall to that sin.

Sin had to be accounted for, to be atoned, as blood for blood, but even with the sacrifices of the Old Testament and all the laws, people never could quite “get God”, they could never wrap their heads around what exactly is was that he desired, so they often let that same old human nature dictate how they should interpret what was expected of them, often resulting in harshness and attitudes that were nothing at all that he desired for us or nothing at all as he expected us to treat one another.

“Listen” what God said concerning our “confusion” at what he desired for his people:

Hosea 6:6: “For I have desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.” 

And now, “listen” as He expounds on this while He was on earth:

Matthew 9: 10-13: “And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat (the table) in the house, behold, many publicans (tax collectors) and sinners CAME AND SAT DOWN WITH HIM and his disciples.

And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with Publicans and sinners (How can your teacher eat with these undesirables?)

BUT when Jesus heard THAT, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

But go ye and LEARN what that meaneth, I WILL HAVE MERCY, AND NOT SACRIFICE: For I am NOT come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

He came out of sheer love and mercy, and SO many other reasons, He came sinless, spotless, and perfect, partly to teach us that sowing love and mercy one toward another IS his desire for us but the main objective was to save us and reconcile us to the Father by offering us through him rebirth, because  by the simple, uncontrollable on our part, act of just being born, we were born into sin and the only escape, the only way to be who he created us to be, was to be born spiritually in Him and as He died on the cross, the other aspect of our human condition was overcame, he by his birth as a “human” while yet being God, he could offer us that spiritual birth and with his horrific death he gave us through him the ability to overcome death as he had and by his Holy resurrection, we were given the tremendous honor of having His Spirit actually COME AND LIVE INSIDE OF US while we one day we will also be resurrected from our deaths.

What once was only to visited by one priest, now the actual presence of God Himself would live inside mortal bodies, with the temple now, as it was declared by the Apostles.

The temple of God is inside of His believers, and we are the church, each one of us, no matter where on this earth we are, we all together His church and one day all the troubles and sorrows of this world will, just as He promised, pass away and all things will become new, and we are promised things so marvelous that as it is written.

1 Corinthians 2:7-9″: “But now we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained (predetermined)BEFORE the world unto our glory.

Which none of the princes (rulers) of this world (age) knew; for had they known it, they would NOT have crucified the Lord of glory.

But as it is written, EYE HATH NOT SEEN, NOR EAR HEARD, NEITHER HAVE ENTERED INTO THE HEART OF MAN, THE THINGS WHICH GOD HATH PREPARED FOR THEM THAT LOVE HIM.”

And while we could discuss all the reasons he came, I want to give you one thought for this holiday, for this life, and for your everyday, HE CAME.

And even as Mary was to be delivered, delivered of her child, that is often so overlooked in life, we always refer it to as “delivering the baby” but the baby is not delivered, WE ARE delivered of the baby and it, like life, it is quite the same as heartaches, grief, hurt and wounds caused by family or friends, setbacks, and disappointments, so many things that, especially now, in our new upheaval of modern life of solitude and uncertainty, we NEED delivered from, we need delivered from all that pain and all that anxiety that eats away at our peace and leaves us feeling hopeless that anything will ever be the same again.

And as much as I wish, even in my own life, that I had a “reset” button and no matter how much I wish I had that same button for friends that I know are hurting so bad and so deep, that we could reset to times past that were brighter, happier, I know that we can’t.

This is the deliverance that Jesus came to give us, He wants to deliver you from all that hurts you, scares you, or causes you pain and tears and truly as it is written in the Book of Revelation, in that great day He will wipe away every tear, but I know that He also wants to wipe away those tears today.

He wants to give you peace, peace in that knowing sometimes everything will not be okay but peace in that He is with us in everything, and He can overshadow you with His Holy presence and bring calm to the most troubled heart, soul, or mind.

THIS is why He came. He came because He loves you and He loves you so much in fact that even before your born into this world.

He knew you would need Him, and He left heaven, can you imagine, leaving the most glorious existence to come to a place where the majority will hate you, trouble you, accuse you, and ultimately torture and crucify you?

Oh, how much love, we could never, ever deserve such a love, we don’t deserve it, could never be worthy of it but He does not do it because we deserve it or will ever, so why did He do it? You want the truth?

He does it simply because He loves YOU that much, whether you love Him back or not, whether you never even accept Him, He still LOVES you and He still would have come here and died for you.

And this world, this world is not the end, this world is not even worth your thoughts because the next world is where all treasures are stored and where goodness lies, and it will be forever, please don’t lose sight of that.

I have used this passage many times, but I felt impressed that it needed to be in this post today.

Please read it slowly, ponder every line, and ponder how it has applied to your life and applies to your life today and give him all of your troubles, all of your words, it doesn’t have to be a prayer read straight from the Book, nor does it need to be another’s words.

He created you, He knows your thoughts and all that your heart NEEDS to say to Him, but He is not going to make you say it, He just doesn’t force Himself on us.

Just talk to Him, just as if you could see Him right there next to you, as he promised he will be our mother, sister, brother, anything we need He is and when we can’t understand, and know that we may never, it is perfectly okay to tell him that too, but as we talk to him, one on one, we soon learn that that things will change as he delivers us from all those things and we begin to feel his peace in the midst of it all.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-11: “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.

A time to be born, and a time to die, a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted. 

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up.

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to rend (tear apart), and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 

A time to love, a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace;

What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? I have seen the trava il (task) which God hath given the sons of men to be exercised in it (to be occupied with). 

He hath made everything beautiful in HIS time…”

Let him bless you and allow His deliverance to come today!

Φλογιζω NBJ original post date: 12/20/2020

Revisited 12/21/2021, I know we have had many a reposted post this month dealing with the Christmas story, but we can study God’s word and go over the same passage countless times and he will always show us something new, and this was what was on my heart to do!

Lord’s will, new post will publish 12/26/2021

May I be the first to wish you a beautiful Christmas, in Him and a brighter year ahead!