“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”

Isaiah 7:14

Jesus was born in fulfillment of the prophecies that had been made about Him. His birth was the reason for the long trip of the wise men from the East, as well as the visit from the shepherds who were tending their flocks. He was seen and announced by angels from heaven. God’s angels stopped and turned their gaze to take part in what was the greatest event in human history. He is the eternal God, the Creator of the Heavens and Earth, the One full of glory. This is the God who decided to leave heaven and enter time. He chose to come down through the womb of a young virgin, who God had supernaturally protected in order for her to bear His Son.

God chose this holy woman to be the protector of His Son, Immanuel. “Immanuel” means, “God with us.” How did Jesus feel being limited by a human body? How did it feel to know that the nations are like a drop in a bucket and that the Earth is His footstool?

He is the One who is higher than the Heavens, deeper than the abyss, wider than the oceans, and now has been found in a small town in the nation of Israel. The angelic hosts joined together to sing a celebration chorus, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” (Luke 2:14). Jesus did not choose the security of a grand palace for His birth place, but preferred the humble location of a stable. However, we should understand that He does not want to make His dwelling in a house built of rocks. Neither does he want to dwell in hearts as hard as rock. Jesus wants to dwell in simple hearts that are open and available for Him to build His Kingdom in their lives. In spite of owning all the gold and silver in the World, as well as being the source of all the riches of the Universe, He preferred to be born in a place that is home to the very animals that help mankind to live. It is as if He is telling us, “I want to dwell in the lives of those that are poor in spirit in order to establish My Kingdom.” Along with His birth came provision. God moved the hearts of the wise men from the East to offer gifts of incense, gold, and myrrh. This gave great financial provision for the family.

What could Mary have felt while holding Jesus in her arms? In her mind, she could not forget the words of the angel Gabriel, when he visited and told to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” (Luke 1:30-33). Without a doubt, Mary must have felt like the most privileged woman on Earth. I believe that she would have looked at the child, transfixed in awe and saying to him, “My sweet Savior, Son of the Most High, King of Israel, thank You for deciding to come to this world. I will be the best mother to You. I will take care of You with all my heart. We are grateful to God for choosing us to be Your parents.”

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
“Man is like a harp that is out of tune. The music is the song of his soul, the melody his painful cries. But David’s Son, that powerful harpist, has come to restore harmony in mankind. His fingers, full of grace dance between the cords. The touch from the fingers of God make music that is as sweet as the heavenlies, a rich melody like the song of the seraphim. God wants all men to feel His divine hand.”

TODAY’S DECLARATION
“When I found grace in the eyes of God, He made my life His holy dwelling place.”

Today’s post is an excerpt from Pastor Cesar Castellanos’ book, Declarations of Power for 365 Days of the Year: Volume Four.

TODAY’S BIBLE READING

• Old Testament: Zechariah 10-14; Job 41:12-34
• New Testament: John 21:1-14; Revelation 21