“But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” Galatians 4:4-5
In the gift of the Christ Child, born of the virgin Mary in Bethlehem, God fulfilled His promises of old to send the Seed of the woman, the offspring of Abraham and David, the eternal Son of God in human flesh, to keep God’s commandments without sin in our stead and then to suffer on the cross the just punishment for our sins and the sins of the entire world so that we might look to Him in faith and be pardoned, forgiven, accepted by God, adopted as His own dear children, and inherit the eternal joys of heaven.
Dear Lord Jesus, eternal Son of God born into this world the Son of man, grant that I trust in You and Your cross for pardon, forgiveness, sonship, and a place in Your everlasting kingdom. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the Revised 1833 Webster Version of the Bible.]
*Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love …” Ephesians 1:3-4
This passage praises God for lovingly bestowing every spiritual blessing upon believers through Christ and His cross. It tell us that God graciously chose his people before the creation of the world with the specific purpose of making them holy and blameless in His sight through faith in Christ Jesus.
We praise You, dear Heavenly Father, for graciously choosing us to be Your own and making us acceptable in Your sight through faith in Christ Jesus, Your Son and our Savior. Amen
[Scripture is quoted from the Revised 1883 Webster Version of the Bible.]
“And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give to him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” Luke 1:31-33
An angel of God appeared to the Virgin Mary and told her that she would conceive in her womb and give birth to a Son she was to name Jesus, meaning Jehovah (or Yahweh) saves. He would be called the Son of the Highest because He is the eternal Son of God, and he would reign on the throne of His father David because he is a true man, descended from King David through the Virgin Mary. The kingdom of Jesus is the eternal kingdom made without hands, prophesied in Daniel 2:44.
Jesus — true God, Son of the Highest, and true man, born of the Virgin Mary — You came into this world to be my Savior by taking my place under the law and suffering the just punishment for my sins. Grant that I look to You and Your atoning sacrifice on the cross in faith and be pardoned and spared in the coming judgment. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the Revised 1883 Webster Version of the Bible.]
“Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word to thy servant. Let thy tender mercies come to me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.” Psalm 119:76-77
Though the demands of God’s law condemn us for our many shortcomings, God promises mercy and forgiveness to those who look to Him in faith, trusting in the atoning sacrifice of Christ Jesus, God’s Son made man. Though the law condemns us to eternal death and torment because of our sins, God’s tender mercies in Christ comfort us with forgiveness and give us eternal life.
Comfort me, O God, with Your merciful kindness in Christ Jesus. Let Your tender mercies give me life through faith in my Savior. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the Revised 1883 Webster Version of the Bible.]
“For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul well knoweth. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and skilfully formed in the lowest parts of the earth. Thy eyes saw my substance, not yet formed; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.” Psalm 139:13-16
Though God created the first man from the dust of the ground and the first woman from the man’s rib, He formed each of us in our mother’s womb. We were no accident. God created and intricately formed each of our bodies and gave us life. Even in the darkness of the womb, God saw and created us, fashioning and weaving together all our members according to His design.
You knew me, O God, even my most inward parts, and formed me in my mother’s womb. Your intricate, creative work is amazing! According to Your creative design, You formed all my members and wove them together in the womb. Grant me the wisdom to acknowledge that, as my Maker, You know everything about me. Give me the wisdom to use my body and my life in this world to worship and honor You and to look to You for my salvation. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the Revised 1883 Webster Version of the Bible.]
