Day 3 - Week 94 - Luke 2:11 "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord."

Jesus came to us over 2,000 years ago in the city of David (Bethlehem) and brought with Him good news that would be great joy to all the people --- because He came as Christ the Lord.

Christ, Christos in Greek, meaning "anointed."
Lord, Kurious in Greek, meaning "a title of honor expressive of respect and reverence, with which servants greet their master."

The angels knew just who Jesus the baby was --- they had seen Him just moments before in heaven with His Father.  They knew that the Father had anointed Him for the special purpose of redemption of mankind.  But they also knew Him as their Lord.  They were very aware of their servanthood to Him, and they held Him in great respect and reverence...because they really knew Him and the glory from which He had come.

Along with His mission of redemption and salvation, Jesus also came to show us who God is. I have been studying, along with some of my family, "Behold your God", a study written by John Snyder, with the intense purpose of "rethinking God biblically."  It is probably one of the most unusual studies that I have ever encountered because it forces you to start really looking at what the Bible tells us about who God is, and doesn't allow you to stay comfortable in the things you've been told about God.

From this past week's study, I can't seem to get Psalm 50:21 out of my head.  In God's rebuke to Israel, He says, "You thought that I was altogether like you."  I have been so guilty of bringing God down to my level.
No matter how hard we try to make Him like us, God isn't like us at all.  Unless we get a correct view of God, we will never have a correct view of ourselves.  He is high and holy --- we most certainly are not.  He is God, and we need to start taking Him seriously.

The angels knew who Jesus was, and they called Him, "Christ the Lord."

While I may call Him "Lord", what does my life say?  How often do I reverse the role and expect God to serve me?  How often do my prayers center on my needs, rather than seeking ways to glorify my Master?

"You thought I was altogether like you."  Oh God, forgive me.  

Day 2 - Week 94 - Luke 2:11, "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord."

We especially celebrate Christ's first coming ever year at Christmas time.  It is a time of remembering that night, long ago, when angels heralded the Savior's arrival...the long-awaited gift that would reconcile humanity to their Creator.  He came as a baby, entering into the world that He had created, and yet the arrival of the Creator went relatively unnoticed by His creation.

Robert J. Morgan writes these words comparing Christ's first coming with His second...I think they are well worth pondering.  For just as certainly as Christ came the first time as a baby, He will come the second time as a King!

When Jesus came the first time, He came wrapped in swaddling clothes.  When He comes again, He'll be dressed in the vestments of victory.

When He came the first time, there was no room in the inn.  When He comes again, the whole world will be His domain.

He came the first time as King of the Jews.  He will come again as King of kings and Lord of lords.

He came the first time to be crucified.  He will come again to be glorified.

He came the first time as the Author of our salvation.  He will come again as the Finisher of our faith.

He came the first time with a baby's cry.  When He comes again, it will be with the roar of the lion of the tribe of Judah.

His first coming was known only to a few shepherds, a handful of wise men, and a few residents of Bethlehem.  When He comes again, it'll be as lightning flashing east to west, He will come in the clouds of glory, and the entire universe will hear the news.

When He came at Bethlehem, the angels sang, "Glory to God in the highest."  When He comes again, they will sing, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever." 

Our Lord came --- Our Lord is coming again!  And upon His second arrival, there will be no heralding of angels in the night sky to a few obscure shepherds... no, this time all of His Creation will acknowledge Him for who He is....King of kings and Lord of lords, worthy of all honor, praise and glory, forever and ever!