The Christmas Decision

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 1:18

The story of the birth of our Lord Jesus begins with an admission by one of his disciples, Matthew, that all was not quite normal in this marriage and birth. After the betrothal ceremony, but before the actual marriage, the young woman was found to be knocked up - suspicion and evidence of adultery, but maybe they just couldn't wait. Uh oh, it's not the father's child, so we'll pin it on a spirit. Critics have fodder aplenty in this one, all they have to do is decide whether to believe or not believe.

There it is once again: the choice. Believe and we have Messiah, Jesus the Savior, the Son of God. The virgin shall conceive was told by the prophet Isaiah centuries before the event. Born in Bethlehem was foretold by Micah. Believe and these prophecies come true in the story right before our eyes. The virgin couldn't do it herself, so there is an agency of God at work here, His own dear Holy Spirit. Believe and we have Christmas with all its blessed events, prophets, shepherds, angels, wise men, dreams, and of course the birth of the Christ child.

Don't believe, and sure, you can appear to make some points in your criticism and sarcasm. You might appear, especially to yourself, to be sharp and smart. It's just another myth to start a new religion; heck, even the Jews didn't believe it and it came out of their legends. You sure are smart!

There is the Christmas decision: believe and rejoice in the birth of the Son of God, or don't believe and rejoice in your sharp wit. Seems simple enough. It only gets complicated if that Son should become the one way to eternal life when this life is concluded.

Have a Merry Christmas!
Bucky