Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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The arrival of a precious child
Isaiah 11: 1 - 5


“A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.” (1)
Watch a sleeping newborn. The calm, deep breathing reveals a quiet and peaceful heart.  Now let us picture the baby lying in the manger in Bethlehem. Who is this child laying in the manger? The child lying in the manger is the true God, begotten of the Father from eternity. He is none other than the Savior, the God-man who has taken on Himself our human nature, the one begotten of the Father from eternity and born of the Virgin Mary. He brings joy to the whole world.
This child, the Savior, will judge with righteousness (vs 4). This righteousness is the gift of Christ’s own righteousness by which God counts us as holy in His presence. Because of the death and resurrection of the Savior, God declares us, the sinners free from the burden of our sins. When God declares us as righteous in His sight, we are righteous because of Christ. 
This child, the Savior, will be faithful (vs.5). The little child lying in the manger, the Savior, will be faithful where all the strength of man fails.  “O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt You; I will praise your name, for You have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure” (Is.25:1). The Son is faithful to His Father as well as to us, the believers.
This child lying in the manger is true man, born of the Virgin Mary. Through His birth of Mary, the Christ is the Son of David according to the flesh (Rom 1:3). According to the human nature, Jesus is but a shoot, a pliable branch coming forth from the stump of Jesse. The Savior, who is God from God is also man from man. Look up on the child in the manger, the glory of God is humbled under the form of humanity. God has turned divine glory into human humility.
This child, the Savior, remakes nature: He throttles the enemy. He has power over the satanic snake. The Christ child will, at the cross, crush the serpent’s head. The Savior replaced enmity with love, peace and harmony. Creation or Sinners are reconciled with the creator.    The Christ child leads all of nature to a new Eden, where the all creation will live in harmony. The message and meaning of Christmas does not cease when the celebration is over.  Christmas is not really about a celebration, Christmas trees, and piles of gifts. Christmas, the coming of the Savior, is about everyday life. God is with us (Immanuel) and we need to remember that fact throughout our life. Who is the child lying in the manger?  My Savior!
Prayer: Lord, help us to remember and celebrate our Savior each and every day of our life.
Thought for the day: Birth of the Savior is good news to the world


Mathew K Lukose, Epiphany MTC, NY

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