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Yours. Mine. Ours.



Merry Christmas!  I hope you had a wonderful blessed holiday - blessed with some “alone” time.  Now I know I blogged about it not being all about me previously, but by “alone” time I mean alone with just you and your Savior.  To me, that is the “blessed” part of the holiday.

 
Don’t get me wrong, I love being with my kids and the grandchildren and giving the gifts and all that - that is certainly a wonderful part of the celebration but the most blessed part of Christmas is my time and my worship of my Savior. 

Prophets for centuries talked about a savior that was coming to save the world.  These prophecies were passed on for centuries.  The Jewish people were the chosen race and when the angel told Mary she was to be with child, right from the “get go” she took ownership of this miracle, proclaiming:

My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant.  From now on generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me.  Holy is His Name. (Luke 1)

This “miracle”, this great thing was for all mankind but it also was Mary’s – He was to be her Savior – blessing her.  Her soul rejoiced.  He has done and will do great things for her.   She goes on to say:

His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation. 

His mercy extended to me and you – He is our Savior – our Lord.  He has come for you.  He has come for me.  I know you are saying, “duh!” right now but hear me out.  I think this is an important point because when John says in that verse we all know and love, that God so loved the world – he means everyone.  And that is comforting and wonderful to know that all are loved by God and He wants all to be saved BUT we can’t generalize here – we can’t take this and shrug it off.   We can't take it for granted.

This Savior that was born, this Messiah – this Jesus, who died for the sins of the world – died for YOU.  He is YOUR Savior, YOUR Messiah, YOUR Lord.  He wants to live in YOUR heart, not just be in your world.  Paul prays in Ephesians (Chapter 3):

For this reason, I kneel before the Father, from Whom His whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.  I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His spirit in your inner being so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.

Your heart - your inner being - indwelt with Christ.  Weymouth translates this “that Christ may settle down and be at home in your hearts by faith”. 

Is He?  At home in your heart, that is?   My heart is all full of myself - I need to make room for Him daily.  Daily I pray to love Him with my whole heart, my whole soul, my whole strength . . .  He SO wants that for us, dear friend.
 
 

Dear Lord, I open my heart to You, Your way, YOU.  It is Yours.  All of it.  May it be Your home.  Be the keeper of my heart, Sweet Jesus, not just at Christmas but every day, in Your Holy Name, I pray, Amen.

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