GET TOGETHER- OVERCOMING IN A HARD TIME
Lu 2:1 9 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Last night I watched the episode about the birth of Jesus from the Bible Series. It was on pure flix. This Christmas season is different for most of us than the Christmas seasons of the past. All of us have been affected in someway by this pandemic. Whether it is the social isolation of being quarantined, or the social isolation of staying at home most of us have either experienced it or know someone who has.
Several of us have friends and love ones who are in the hospital fighting for their lives. Praise God for the health care workers who risk it all every day to look after those who are sick. We also know that besides the virus that we live in a country that is as divided as I can remember it being divided in my 71 years on the earth. It is a particularly challenging time that we live in.
Last night in the movie depicting Mary and Joseph’s journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem there was a scene depicting the harshness of the journey. It was between a 90- and 100-mile trip. They were not riding in a motorhome, an automobile, or a train. They did not have the comforts that we have when we travel today. By foot some say it would have been an 8-10-day trip. It was a very hard and challenging journey for them.
When we serve God, He does not always give us an easy path to travel. Mary and Joseph had both faced the shame of her being an unwed Mother to be living in a small town. They had both had supernatural encounters with God through either a dream, angelic visitation, or both. Mary was with child conceived by the Holy Spirit. She was a virgin and had never been with a man. And yet the journey that she is on to Bethlehem and the journey that she would live out over the next thirty something years would not be easy. However, it would be glorious! They would make it to Bethlehem. She would give birth to the Christ child, the long-awaited Messiah. She would see Him grow up, heal the sick, raise the dead and set captives free.
She would also see the only perfect child that has ever walked the face of the earth one day be beaten, mocked, and nailed to a cruel Roman cross. She would also celebrate His being raised from the dead and experience being filled with the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. For us today our journey may have some challenges that we never thought that we would see. But we can rejoice as I said last week that Emmanuel God is with us. We can rejoice that one day we will witness His second coming. We will either already be with Him, or we will as we are told in 1Th 4:17 we will meet Him in the air. “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”
So, for all of those who are in Christ we can rejoice that the day is fast approaching when there will be no more heartache, no more disappointments, no more sickness, and no more wars. Remember that no matter what we are overcomers! Re 12:11 “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.(NKJV) The Apostle Paul said it like this in 2Co 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” So even though as we said a few weeks ago this season is not perfect. We can rejoice no matter what is going on in our journey that Emmanuel is with us. We can rejoice that one day we will be with Him forever and ever.
Let Us Pray
Lord Jesus we pray for all that are sick with Covid and for those who care about them. Please bring a quick healing. For others that the journey is a little challenging right now for whatever reason give them the assurance that You are with them. We thank you for coming to the earth in the form of a man. We thank You for dying on the cross for our sins. We praise You for being raised from the dead. We look forward to Your return for your people.
In Jesus Name
Amen
On behalf of J.J. and all of our family we wish you a Merry Christmas!
Your Friend/Kinfolk
Preston
Real Party Ministry 