Conception and birth

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Permalink Reply by Leonard T on December 23, 2013 at 2:58pm

The key to what you have stated is in what you have stated. We really do not celebrate the day, but rather celebrate the Christ (Jesus) who is God incarnate. In reality we should be celebrating the totality of His life and work everyday as we acknowledge Him as our Lord and Savior. That is part of the purpose of taking Communion (Lord's Table).

Lord Bless,

LT

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Permalink Reply by Leonard T on December 23, 2013 at 4:06pm

The key in worship is focus, because the term means "worth-ship." Many people over the years have created gods out of things and worshiped the thing. Some worshiped the sun, others the moon, some the stars. Others created idols and made them in the image of birds of the air and beasts of the field. None of these qualify as worship, regardless of the ignorance of the ones involved. For true worship is focused on God alone and not His creation, but the Creator. We know that God revealed Himself to several people in the oldest of days post flood. In Genesis 10 we see man's attempt to build a great city and to establish a tower that reaches into the heavens and God responded by confusing their language.

If we stick with the OT for a moment we will see that God gave Israel the rules for proper worship and the rules were to be adhered to specifically. God gave them the feasts and various Sabbaths for example. Each feast was a time of worship and had a specific purpose.

For the individual who aimlessly gives praise to the sun or moon their action only reveals that there is something missing in their life/heart/soul. This void is not fulfilled by missing the mark, but is fulfilled only in communion with the God.

Then there is another aspect. It is one thing to know that there is a God, another to recognize as Israel did that Jehovah is the one true God and another that brings us from spiritually dead to spiritually alive in and through Jesus Christ by grace through faith. John 4:24 teaches us that Jesus recognized the type of worship that was required of the children of God and this worship must be done in spirit and truth. Yet, without Christ we are spiritually dead and incapable of this kind of worship that is mentioned in John 4.

Thus, lost man does not worship that which he does not know, but attempts to fill the void that exists within. Israel was given the Law which included the rules and regulations for worship, yet their worship was only a shadow of that which was to come. It is in Christ that all these things find their fulfillment and it is in Christ alone that we find our forgiveness and new life.

Not sure if I responded to your question or went off on a rabbit trail, but please feel free to inquire further and we, as well as I trust others, will examine these things.

Lord Bless,

LT 

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Permalink Reply by Leonard T on December 24, 2013 at 8:45am

Blessings brother and may God continue to bless you.

Lord Bless,
LT

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Permalink Reply by Amanda on December 23, 2013 at 4:31pm

As we celebrate, we are celebrating much more than the birth of Mary's baby. Many things were happening on that night, and most importantly fulfillment of God's Word was taking place -- God was speaking to us by His Son. The birth of Jesus is the most complete revelation to us from God about God.

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”? And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.” But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.” (Hebrews 1:1-9 ESV)

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