Throughout time, God had a special concern for His crowning achievement, humankind. He always intended the best for His creation, beginning with the Garden of Eden. However, man proved over and over that his humanity was wrought with fatal weaknesses. Regardless of the "outs", God gave man in the form of plans for forgiveness, man just couldn’t keep up his end of the bargain. So God promised a Savior, a Messiah, who would wash away all sin and finally establish a heavenly kingdom, one even better than the original.

Over the centuries, the Hebrew people waited in great anticipation for the coming of El Shade, (Hebrew for God the Almighty), for they were of the family of God, His children (Gen.18: 19, Ex.2: 25, Ps.108: 7 etc). They visualized His coming in great glory, the Mighty Warrior Jehovah Jirra (God the Provider), Jehovah Nissi (God the Conqueror).

Over the centuries, the prophets provided insight into who He would be, where He would be born, and when He would be born. They focused on the image of a victorious God, never imagining that their Messiah-Savior would come as an infant, a helpless child, born of humble circumstances.

We celebrate the fact that He came, and, if we believe in Him, we, too, can become part of the family of God. Time and time again, we are referred to as God’s children, (Rom.9: 8, Luke24: 29, Gal3: 22). We can sing together, "I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God", because we are.

This child, the scriptures prove, is unquestionably God incarnate, whose life was prophesized throughout the Old Testament, centuries before His birth. The accuracy of these prophesies, especially those attesting to His death and resurrection, would prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Christ is the living, breathing Son of God.

So in His birth we are adopted/grafted into His family. We are given the gift of eternal salvation if we only accept it. Unlike the Hebrews of the Old Testament, we recognize the babe in the manger - He is the child of promise! Hallelujah!

Come visit us at Blake’s Chapel Advent Christian Church in Hampstead, North Carolina, as we pay homage to the God of our salvation - He who humbled Himself to come as an infant, helpless, but full of promise.

Have a blessed Christmas.

Dan Ligotti