God With Us?

1 John 1:1-4 We proclaim to you the One who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw Him with our own eyes and touched Him with our own hands. He is the Word of life.

This One who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen Him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that He is the One who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then He was revealed to us.

We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.

If you are not a Christ follower then maybe you don't know why some people are. Maybe you don't understand why they call themselves Christian. Could Jesus really be that big of a deal? Why are people still insisting on celebrating his birthday?

John was one of the guys that spent all of his time with Jesus every day for three years. John tells us that he really knows the truth about Jesus and he wants to share it with us so that we can decide for ourselves. John is sure that if you consider the facts then you will realize that Jesus was not an ordinary man, he wasn't a madman and he wasn't a big fake.

John 20:30-31 The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book. But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in Him you will have life by the power of His name.

John wants us to know that he had personal contact with Jesus, he saw what he did, he heard him teach and he touched a real physical body. John was there for the Sermon on the Mount, he was there when the demons obeyed his command and be looked on as Peter walked on the water with Jesus. John believed and he wished that his readers might have the same experience that he had so they would have the same belief, the same hope, and the same joy that he had.

John 1:1-4 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through Him, and nothing was created except through Him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone.

John's testimony tells us that Jesus is God and as God he has always existed, he took part in creation, he is the giver of our first life and he is the one that made eternal life possible. What an incredible thought to realize that Jesus was with God, he left heaven for us, he shared in our hurts and our struggles.

YOU NEED TO DECIDE

Matthew 16:15-17 Then He asked them, "But who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "You are blessed, Simon son of John, because My Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.

John isn't the only one, all of the people that really knew the truth about Jesus would testify that he is God in a body. We all need to take the quiz that Jesus gave to his disciples.

Who do you say that Jesus is? Have you really checked out the facts objectively? Was God really with us?

Good News Of Great Joy

Luke 2:10-14 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people."

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

After Jesus was born, while he was still in the manger, an angel appeared to a group of shepherds. At that time, shepherds were not looked upon in a positive manner. They were considered unclean, and they were not considered viable witnesses in a court of law. Because of this, it’s important to note that the news of Jesus’ birth was given first to the lowliest of people.

This is a great truth, but there is a more important point that must be made. These shepherds were special. They were the keepers of sacrificial lambs. This is the reason that they were “in the fields nearby.” It is important to know this because Jesus, the Lamb of God, was born. Catch the significance of this statement:

"The keepers of the sacrificial lambs were the first ones to hear of the birth of Christ."

With the announcement of the birth, the angels burst into song, and the heavens opened to reveal their joy. The text gives the impression that the angels words were spoken:

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and goodwill towards men.”

Even if they were, the cadence of this message had to have been melodious. The birth of Christ was unprecedented and heaven being visible from earth was amazingly rare.

However the message was vocalized, the news was the most significant news in history. The meaning of Christmas was explained throughout the heavenly hosts who praised God.

The shepherds could have sat back and thought, “Cool, we just saw angels.” They could have debated over the meaning of the words, or felt pride in being the ones who got to see the heavens opened up. They could have decided that their own sacrificial sheep were more important than the Lamb of God. But for them the news was a call to action.

“Let’s go to town, because we have to see what the angels have proclaimed.”

Their response gives us a clue as to how we can receive God’s good will. We must take action by personally responding to the Prince of Peace.

Who will you tell today the Good News?

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Instead of services on Sunday morning watch for us on Grace Falls Facebook for a Live Christmas Day devotion from Pastor Buff McNickle. We pray that it encourages you and that you and your family will have a blessed Christmas

Extravagant Love

John 10:1-5 “I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.

The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.”

Its amazing what extent people will go to each holiday season to get the hot gift of the year. This years must have gift happens to be Hatchimal. If you don’t have kids then you probably have no idea what they are.

It’s a toy that lives in an egg and when kids show it attention, it cracks open and a furry toy pops out that can learn basic commands. Who knew that this toy would be the must have of the season. Definitely not the makers of them because they have had to ramp up production and want be able to supply the demand until early 2017.

People bought them up at retail price at $60 and now they go for $130 to as much as $500. Crazy what people will do for the ones they love. I know we can read this and think we would never…but we all have done things that people on the outside might say is crazy but to do for those we love…we don’t even think twice.

Today I am thinking about the love a shepherd has for his sheep. The lengths that He would go to care for and protect them and the way that the sheep respond to only him. This is why that babe that came many Christmases ago is so important to us today. It reminds of how far love will go to reach the people they love.

I guess we can learn something from a Hatchimal this year. Remember I said that the kids never get the toy unless they take the time to give it some attention. I pray that you don’t get so wrapped up in all the season has to offer and forget to give the ONE GIFT that really matters the attention He deserves.

Just know that if you do neglect the ONE GIFT that matters then you will never know the true joy it might bring.

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Instead of services on Sunday morning watch for us on Grace Falls Facebook for a Live Christmas Day devotion from Pastor Buff McNickle. We pray that it encourages you and that you and your family will have a blessed Christmas

Finding Peace This Christmas

Luke 2:1-7 At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child.

And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.

Ever been to Natchez Mississippi? I would guess not many of you have. Did you know that this small community of only 16,000 people has produced 21 players in the NBA and NFL in the last 50 years. That is more than any other city in US based on population. Crazy how so many athletes can come out of such a small and in many ways insignificant town.

Yet, isn’t that similar to Bethlehem? Who would have thought that the one who would save the people from their sins would come from this little town. I know that the prophet had prophesied it and I know that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob always keeps His promises. But, Bethlehem, really? Yes, really, and this son of Bethlehem would bring us peace.

Do you know peace today? Are the relationships in your life marked by peace? Is your heart ruled by peace or chaos and pain? Jesus came to give us peace.

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Instead of services on Sunday morning watch for us on Grace Falls Facebook for a Live Christmas Day devotion from Pastor Buff McNickle. We pray that it encourages you and that you and your family will have a blessed Christmas

The Hope That Christmas Offers

Matthew 1:18-25  This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement[a] quietly.

As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus,[b] for he will save his people from their sins.”

All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:

“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”

When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.

Imagine if you can what it would be like to be a guest in somebodies home but never feeling at home. Grateful to have a place to stay but quietly hoping to one day be in your own home. You have been given freedom to make yourself at home yet you still never feel 100% free. Have you ever been there?

It makes me think of Jim and Tami Webb who confidently and graciously responded to God’s call to sell their house and follow God to New Jersey. They gave up the comfort of a house they had raised their children in and for years now they have been living with another family they had only really known for a few months.

They made it work but they wondered when they could finally have a place here that they could call home. They moved out of one house that was shared with another family to a house that was owned by another. They couldn’t truly settle in because there was no promise they could be there long term and then sure enough they were given a few months to get out.

Hope came in a strange way but at least there was hope. They received a gift from an unexpected source and found a house that they could move in. Now finally after a year they were able to unpack the boxes that they packed in Florida. They were able to finally find a home they could call their own.

The name Jesus was chosen by God for his Son, it was a common name of that day but its meaning was very special. Jesus is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew name Joshua. It means “Yahweh is Salvation.” The Lord is salvation was the name given for centuries to little Jewish boys similar to how we today name boys John or Mike.

It reflects the hope of these Jewish parents for one day experiencing God’s salvation. For centuries the Jewish people had been “houseguest” and they were never truly free. Centuries of oppression under a succession of world powers was their only experience. So God’s choice of such a common name when He could have chosen anything helps us see a glimpse into the heart of God.

Jesus came for all of us. He came in a way that identified with the “average Joe.” I read this quote and I think it sums up perfectly as we consider these thoughts today:

“He came in love to become one of us, so that we might be drawn to Him and become one of His.”

So find Hope today in knowing that He came!

LIVE ON FACEBOOK

Instead of services on Sunday morning watch for us on Grace Falls Facebook for a Live Christmas Day devotion from Pastor Buff McNickle. We pray that it encourages you and that you and your family will have a blessed Christmas

The Reason For The Season

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Luke 1:67-79 Then his father, Zechariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and gave this prophecy:

68 "Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people. 69 He has sent us a mighty Savior from the royal line of His servant David, 70 just as He promised through His holy prophets long ago.

71 Now we will be saved from our enemies and from all who hate us. 72 He has been merciful to our ancestors by remembering His sacred covenant-- 73 the covenant He swore with an oath to our ancestor Abraham.

74 We have been rescued from our enemies so we can serve God without fear, 75 in holiness and righteousness for as long as we live.

76 "And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord. 77 You will tell His people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins.

78 Because of God's tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace."

The world cannot come up with enough ways to distract us from the real reason that we celebrate at this time of year. At first everybody probably knew what the celebration was all about, just about everybody in the United States knew who Jesus is, but in today's world it has become so bad that I am sure that there are people that have never heard about the special baby that is the real reason for the celebration.

Christmas is not supposed to be synonymous with chestnuts roasting on an open fire or other warm, fuzzy feelings. Christmas is a lot messier than that. Christmas is about a very ugly situation that God wanted to make right. Christmas deals with the messy fact that sinners need to be rescued from God’s judgment.

Zechariah's prophecy shows a lot of insight to the reason that Jesus stepped out of heaven and came to be "God with us."

Salvation is God’s doing, not our doing.

Ephesians 2:8-9 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

Emmanuel, "God with us," happened because of God's own plan, he was reaching out to us with a purpose out of his own motivation. We didn't deserve to have him reach out to us and we didn't go searching for Him. We like to think that we are in control but the Bible makes it clear that God orders everything, controls everything, and rules over everything and our salvation is his doing. (Daniel 4:35)

Salvation is accomplished through the person of Jesus Christ.

1 Timothy 2:5-6 For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity--the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.

Although Jesus' name is not mentioned specifically in Zechariah's prophecy, He is described so clearly that there is no mistake who He is talking about. The Old Testament prophet called Him the sun of righteousness that will rise with healing in its wings. Jesus claimed that He is the way to God the Father and there isn't any other way. (Malachi 4:2)

Salvation results in a life of holy service to God.

Titus 2:12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God.

Does your salvation have any affect on the way that you live? Zachariah says, “we have been rescued from our enemies so we can serve God without fear, in holiness and righteousness for as long as we live.” (Luke 1:74-75).

People who think they’re saved but who live for themselves and their own happiness to the neglect of God and their neighbors are deceived. The gospel should make a difference in your daily life if you really agree with God that you were hopeless without him and if you really agree with God about your sin. Jesus said that to love Him is to obey Him.

Our greatest need at Christmas time is not for more things, neither is it for personal fulfillment, our greatest need is not even for the love of family and friends. The greatest need that Christmas wants to meet is for our salvation.

It is easy to allow the celebration to cover-up what we are celebrating. The world loves a party and they love to get free stuff but what most of them do not know is why in the world are we partying and why does it really matter.

We need to live on mission and tell the people that we have influence with that there is a real reason to party.