Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Fourth Christmas Day
James 1:18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth . . .
HE RULES WITH TRUTH AND GRACE
Once again we stand in spirit at a manger that cradles a King and Savior. We contemplate again the marvelous love that caused the King of Glory to lay His glory by and come down from heaven to redeem those who are flesh and blood. We consider gratefully that The Son of God became the child of a human mother that He might keep the divine law for us and suffer the punishment for our sins in our stead to reconcile us with God. We praise God that the purpose of Jesus' incarnation was accomplished and that he now reigns supreme as "the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords," in glory forevermore.
Jesus is the King of THE TRUTH. The Truth that Jesus proclaims is that particular truth that sinners need for their salvation, The Gospel. He uses the Gospel of the Kingdom as His means to make sinners His subjects. Having become citizens of the Savior's Kingdom through faith, they serve Him here in time and hereafter in eternity. As those who are "of the truth," they hear His voice. They will listen to no other voice than the voice of Jesus: "And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him; for they know not the voice of strangers" (John 10:5).
How wondrously the advent and incarnation of the Son of God are related to all our life and work and testimony as Christians! He came into the world to bear witness to the Truth. We, begotten with the Word of Truth (James 1:18), have been called into the glorious service of proclaiming His Truth to dying men. He bears witness to the Truth through us. And though we are dismayed by the indifference, error, and unbelief that we see everywhere, we, nevertheless, have the happy experience again and again to observe how someone hears the King's voice and follows Him. To this end was Jesus born and for this cause came He into the world -- at Christmas.
